Oil Refinery Blast Kills Worker and Leaves Several Injured, Raising Human Rights Concerns

Author: Nayan Bansal

October 14, 2026

HRRC is concerned about the working conditions in the MRPL oil refinery in India following the recent blast incident that killed an employee and injured several others. We echo the concerns of the workers protesting over the violation of human rights at the oil refinery and support the principles of safe, equal, and dignified working conditions as enshrined in Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

MRPL Refinery, India [Image credit: DRajikowa/Wikimedia Commons]

On September 30th, a blast occurred in a government subsidiary oil refinery unit of Mangalore Refinery Petrochemical Limited (MRPL). The blast occurred in the afternoon, leading to a fire in Coker Hydro Treater (CHT). The incident killed one worker and another sustained high burn injuries (nearly 35%), while others were left with less serious injuries. 

MRPL officials said that the incident occurred in a cold separator unit, triggering widespread fire. The affected unit was evacuated and the fire was brought under control within three hours of its eruption. However, the event triggered panic in surrounding areas with locals reporting a deafening sound and thick smoke rising from the refinery. Additionally, a reported 54 houses and eight worship sites were damaged. Member of legislative council (MLC) Manjunath Bhandary said in a statement that the impact of the blast was felt in a 15-kilometre radius of the refinery. 

A First Information Report has been registered, accusing the chief managers of both the CHT and MRPL.The Deccan Chronicle also reported that “the case has been booked under BNS [Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita] Sections 287 (Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 125(b) (Act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 106 (Causing death by negligence).” 

On October 1st, MRPL announced 1.2 crore Indian rupees (nearly $1.24 million USD) as compensation to the family of the deceased employee. MRPL said in a statement that the family was also eligible for rupees 10 lakhs (nearly $10,300 USD) under Group Term Life Insurance and rupees 20 lakhs (nearly $20,600 USD) under Workman Compensation Policy.  

Following the incident, the Karnataka committee of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) asked the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) to consider the Suo Moto case– to register a complaint on its own–on the matter and demanded a detailed investigation. The DYFI “highlighted concerns related to workers' fundamental right to life, human dignity, and a safe working environment”. 

Deccan Herald reported that a similar incident happened in July 2025, which killed two operators in the MRPL unit. This most recent incident renewed local concerns of pollution due to the refinery smoke, industrial hazards, and proximity of the refinery to the inhabited areas. Previously, in October 2014, local residents protested against the expansion of phase three of the unit–CHT being part of it–over the concerns of air, water, and noise pollution that the refinery was creating. However, MRPL officials levelled that these allegations are motivated by political and vested interests to gain employment under Mangalore Special Economic Zone.

On October 7th, MRPL Mazdoor Sangh’s (a labour association of MRPL) honorary president Satyajit Surathkal held a press conference, demanding a comprehensive investigation into the safety lapses at the refinery. He further demanded rupees 10 lakhs (nearly $10,300 USD) health insurance and rupees 25 lakhs (nearly $25,850 USD) accidental insurance for current workers of the oil refinery to ensure ongoing protections for workers’ safety. 

The safety of workers in factories remains a major human rights concern in India. The International Labour Organisation considers the right to equality, dignity and safety of all workers as fundamental human rights and argues that these rights must always be upheld. Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) safeguards the fundamental right to work in favourable conditions and with dignity and equality. Additionally, Article 7 (b) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights asks State parties to recognise the right to “safe and healthy working conditions”. India ratified the Covenant on April 10, 1979 to safeguard the interest of workers and working conditions in India. India was also a party in favour of UDHR in 1948 and committed itself to ensure human rights of all within the country. India has yet to meet all of its human rights obligations.

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Glossary

• Blast - to destroy something with explosives 

• Cold separator - Liquid removal from low-temperature gas streams

• Combustible matter - any flammable matter such as heavy fuels that may accumulate to cause a fire hazard to people or property.

• Compensation - to pay as a balancing amount to the cost incurred 

• Corporation - an association of employers and employees in a basic industry

• Deceased - a dead person 

• Evacuated - to remove from a dangerous area

• Favourable - beneficial to something 

• Federation - an encompassing political or societal entity formed by uniting smaller or more localized entities

• Hazards - dangers

• Injured - physically damaged 

• Insurance - an agreement in which you pay a company money and they pay your costs if you have an accident, injury, etc.

• Negligent conduct - failure to exercise enough or required degree of care, skill or diligence.

• Refinery - a factory where substances in their natural state, such as oil or sugar, are made pure

• Subsidiary - a company wholly or partly controlled by another

• Suo Moto - It is used to describe a situation where a court or a judge takes the initiative to act without any party requesting or prompting them to do so

• Sustained - lasting, prolonged