A major fire broke out at the Haldia Refinery in West Bengal early on Tuesday, injuring at least 15 people after flames engulfed a naphtha-carrying pipeline, according to reports.

The incident reportedly took place between 4 am and 5 am when flames suddenly erupted from the pipeline inside the refinery premises. Workers present near the site suffered burn injuries as the fire spread rapidly.

Visuals from the scene showed thick black smoke rising high into the sky as emergency teams and workers attempted to bring the blaze under control. Local residents and refinery authorities rushed to the spot soon after the incident was reported.

The injured were shifted to the Haldia Sub-divisional Hospital for treatment. Reports said that some of those injured were in critical condition.

Authorities have not yet revealed the exact cause of the fire. An investigation is expected to determine what triggered the blaze at the refinery.

Naphtha is a highly flammable fuel derived from crude oil and is commonly used in the production of fuels such as petrol and kerosene.

A sudden rise in glacier meltwater triggered a flash flood-like situation in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district, damaging a key road and leaving more than 50 tourist vehicles stranded, officials said.

The incident occurred on Monday afternoon at Jhalma Nallah, where a sudden surge in water flow washed away a portion of the road connecting the remote region. Authorities said no rainfall had been reported in the area, indicating that the sudden increase in glacier meltwater was responsible for the incident.

According to Lahaul-Spiti Superintendent of Police Shivani Mehla, more than 50 tourist vehicles were stranded after the swollen nallah damaged the road stretch. However, no casualties or injuries have been reported so far.

Restoration work underway

Officials said restoration work on the affected stretch was immediately taken up, with teams working to restore connectivity and facilitate the safe evacuation of stranded tourists.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), along with the local administration, has launched emergency repair operations and expressed confidence that the road link would be restored at the earliest. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.

The flash flood-like event temporarily disrupted traffic movement and cut off road access in the area. Similar weather-related disruptions have affected parts of Himachal Pradesh in recent days, with flash floods and heavy rainfall impacting road connectivity in several districts.

Delhi has experienced its warmest summer nights in four years during the ongoing pre-monsoon season, according to weather department data, even as the southwest monsoon is yet to reach the national capital.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Delhi recorded an average minimum temperature of 22.9 degrees Celsius between March and June, making it the warmest pre-monsoon night-time season since 2022.

The data highlights a period of persistently warm nights across the city, despite occasional spells of rainfall and thunderstorms witnessed during the season.

Monsoon yet to reach Delhi

The southwest monsoon, which normally arrives in Delhi around June 27, has missed its usual onset date this year. Weather officials have indicated that the monsoon is now likely to reach the city during the first week of July.

The delayed onset comes as several parts of the country continue to receive widespread rainfall under active monsoon conditions.

Rain alerts issued in several states

The weather department has issued heavy rainfall warnings for multiple states, including Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. Authorities have advised residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert and follow local advisories amid forecasts of intense rainfall in some regions.

Meteorologists expect weather conditions to remain favourable for further advancement of the southwest monsoon over additional parts of north India in the coming days.