8 dead as molten metal falls on workers at Vizag steel plant (original) (raw)
Rescued workers told police that a blast occurred moments before tonnes of molten steel fell down. (Express photo enhanced by AI)
At least eight workers were killed on Monday when a ladle carrying molten steel broke and caused a massive fire at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) plant, also known as Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, officials said.
At least six workers were injured in the incident and taken to nearby hospitals. Multiple fire trucks and dozens of firefighters were pressed to bring the fire under control.
Visakhapatnam District Collector M Abhishikth Kishore confirmed that eight people died. “The mishap occurred at 4.15 pm. The injured have been admitted to two private hospitals where they are stable,” he said.
Officials said the temperature of the molten steel in the large industrial ladle was around 1,500-1,600 degrees Celsius.
The Union Ministry of Steel said a sudden explosion had triggered the accident. “At the time of the incident, casting operations were underway at Caster-2 of Steel Melt Shop-1. Before the slide gate could be opened to pour hot crude steel from the ladle to the tundish for further casting, a sudden and severe explosion took place. A large ball of fire rose to the ceiling of the shop, and Overhead Crane-2 subsequently caught fire,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that it was closely monitoring the situation and extending all necessary support to the affected families and injured workers.
Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Dr Shankbratha Bagchi told The Indian Express on Monday evening that rescue operations were underway. “We are still on the job. It will take hours,” he said.
Police identified the deceased as G V Apparao, Prabhakar, Bheem Kumar, Krishna Nag, Gold Kumar, Trinadh, Appala Raju, and Ramana. Five of them were employees of the plant, and three were contract labourers, officials said.
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RINL has initiated an investigation to ascertain the cause of the incident, the Steel Ministry said. A three-member external enquiry committee, headed by the Director-in-Charge, Bokaro Steel Plant, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), has also been constituted to conduct an independent inquiry.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock and grief at the incident. The CM spoke with the District Collector and Police Commissioner, and directed them to provide help for the families of affected persons. Officials briefed the CM on the ongoing situation and relief operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sadness at the loss of lives and announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. “Saddened by the mishap at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. Praying that the injured recover at the earliest. The local authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected. An ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured will be given Rs 50,000,” the Prime Minister’s Office quoted the PM as saying.
Former chief minister and YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy also expressed grief over the incident. Demanding a comprehensive inquiry, Jagan called for strict action against those found responsible and stressed that worker safety must remain the highest priority in all industrial establishments.
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A major accident had taken place at the Vizag Steel Plant in 2012, when 16 workers died following the explosion of a newly commissioned oxygen plant. In December 2020, four workers were injured when molten steel spilt from one of the ladles at the same spot where the accident occurred on Monday.
Sources in the steel plant management said an external safety audit is held every year and that internal inspections are conducted every three months by the safety engineering department of the plant.
Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More
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