A massive fire broke out following an explosion at the Indian Oil refinery in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, during the restart of the Atmospheric Vacuum Unit (AVU) on Tuesday evening. The incident, which caused extensive damage and injuries, was reportedly triggered by a furnace burst in the AVU, which had been offline for 40 days due to maintenance. The explosion's impact was so powerful that it could be heard up to one kilometer away.

According to officials, eight workers suffered severe burn injuries, with three in critical condition. Public Relations Officer Renu Pathak of Mathura Refinery reported that among the injured, two workers sustained burns covering 50% of their bodies, two with 40% burns, and the remaining four with 20% burns. Initially, the injured were taken to City Hospital in Mathura before being transferred to Apollo Hospital in Delhi for specialized treatment.

Eyewitnesses described the incident as sudden, with videos circulating online showing the scale of the fire. Relatives of the injured workers voiced concerns over safety protocols at the refinery, with one family member, Pushp Raj, explaining that his brother, a contract worker, was unexpectedly caught in the blast as the unit was being restarted.

In response, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued an urgent directive for swift relief measures, including immediate medical care for the injured and expedited assistance efforts at the site. He also extended his wishes for the swift recovery of those affected. Meanwhile, the police have launched an investigation into the exact cause of the explosion, with further updates from refinery management pending.