Mangaluru: Loud explosion heard within MRPL; villagers wait in fear

coastaldigest.com news network

September 9, 2015

Mangaluru, Sep 9: The local villagers residing around Jokatte and nearby villages were in a state of anxiety and terror for a while, when a loud explosive sound was heard from the coke and sulphur units in the III Phase of Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) located near Jokatte on the outskirts of the city on Tuesday night.

The incident occurred at around 9 p.m. on Tuesday night, frightening the locals with the loud blast. When the initial news reached that an explosion had occurred in the coke and sulphur units, the villagers' apprehension grew higher.

It is learnt that the fire seen emanating from the chimney of coke and sulphur units was bigger than usual. In addition, the sudden cut-off of power supply in the refinery and surrounding areas were reasons enough to put the villagers in a state of anxiety.

No cause for fear, says MRPL

A senior official of MRPL Lakshmi Kumaran told this publication that it was common for loud noises to arise from the plant during the refining process of petroleum. Also, the refinery was plunged into darkness as the power supply had been cut off, she said, adding that there was no need for worry.

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Mangaluru’s public transport revolution: 100 new govt electric buses to end private ‘trip-cutting’

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

• Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

• State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

• Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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