The inauguration of the Rs 79,450 crore Pachpadra refinery has been postponed after a fire near its CDU unit, with no casualties reported.
Thick smoke billows from the Pachpadra refinery after a fire broke out in the CDU unit a day before its inauguration. (IMAGE: PTI)
A fire at the Pachpadra refinery in Rajasthan’s Balotra district has led to the postponement of its scheduled inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Petroleum Ministry said on Monday. The blaze, which broke out in the vicinity of the CDU (Crude Distillation Unit), was brought under control with no reports of casualties.
The refinery was set to be dedicated to the nation on April 21, but the programme has now been deferred. A revised date will be announced later, the ministry said, adding that an investigation has been initiated to ascertain the cause of the incident and take necessary remedial measures.
Videos showing thick smoke billowing from the site had circulated widely on social media earlier in the day, as fire tenders rushed to contain the flames. Officials had said no casualties were reported.
The refinery, where the fire occurred, is India’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex, built at an investment of over Rs 79,450 crore.
VIDEO | A fire broke out at the Pachpadra refinery in Rajasthan’s Balotra district, a day before its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Fire tenders rushed to the spot and efforts were underway to douse the flames. No immediate reports of casualties available. More… pic.twitter.com/eT2xD4vsB4
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 20, 2026
Officials had earlier indicated that Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma was scheduled to visit the site.
With a high-profile inauguration planned, the incident had triggered emergency response measures within the premises as teams moved quickly to contain the situation. The blaze also raised concerns over safety preparedness at the site.
Due to an unfortunate fire incident today in the vicinity of the Crude Distillation Unit at the HRRL refinery, the scheduled dedication of the refinery by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 21.04.2026 has been postponed.The fire has been brought under control. There are no reports…
— Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas #MoPNG (@PetroleumMin) April 20, 2026
Authorities said a detailed assessment of the damage is underway, with more information expected.
In a separate instance in October last year, a train on Mumbai’s Metro-3 corridor broke down days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to inaugurate a section of the project, forcing passenger evacuation and raising concerns over operational readiness.
Balotra, India, India
April 20, 2026, 17:10 IST
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