Visakhapatnam Steel Plant accident: eight dead in ladle blast, fire at SMS-1 (original) (raw)
Visakhapatnam Steel Plant Tragedy: An injured being shifted to MGM Seven Hills Hospitals in Visakhapatnam on June 8, 2026. | Photo Credit: V. Raju
Eight workers were killed and six were injured in an explosion at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) plant in Visakhapatnam on Monday (June 8, 2026), officials said. The blast triggered a massive fire at the facility and led to the spilling of hundreds of tonnes of molten steel, they added.
The major industrial accident occurred at RINL, the corporate entity of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), around 4.40 p.m. when a ladle carrying hot liquid steel exploded in the steel melting shop unit. The injured have sustained critical burn injuries, sources said.
Eight workers are feared dead after molten steel fell on them at the RINL-Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) on Monday.
The molten steel reportedly spilled from a ladle while the workers were working below.
More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/1uIms6RuC0
— The Hindu - Andhra Pradesh (@THAndhra) June 8, 2026
District Collector M. Abhishikth Kishore, in an official statement, confirmed that five regular workers and three contract workers were killed, while a manager-level officer was also said to be among the victims. The deceased were not immediately identified. A 24x7 control room has been set up at the Collectorate (phone numbers 0891-2590100 and 2590102) to coordinate with officials and relatives of the victims.
Speaking to The Hindu, the District Manager of 108 Ambulance Services M. Suresh stated that 10 ambulances were deployed to the site immediately following instructions from the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) and Collector. “We have shifted several victims with severe burn injuries ranging from 40% to 90% while five ambulances remain stationed at the spot to assist rescue teams,” Mr. Suresh said.
Heavy Smoke Hampers Rescue Operations
Earlier, dense smoke and towering flames had trapped several personnel inside the shop floor of the facility. Fire tenders and emergency rescue teams from both the steel plant and State departments rushed to the location and were working late into the night under hazardous conditions to douse the flames and rescue the stranded workers.
Police officials tracking the rescue operation noted that the molten metal was kept at an ultra-high temperature of nearly 1,600 degrees Celsius before it spilt, making immediate access to the core blast zone extremely difficult.
The injured personnel were identified as R. Mallikharjuna Rao, P. Srinivasa Rao, A. Appa Rao, Satyanarayana, G. Suribabu, and Paidiraju. They were rushed services to premier corporate hospitals in the city.
Five injured workers from the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant accident have been taken to private hospitals, the 108 service's district manager M. Suresh said.
One has 90% burns, two have 40% and one 10%. Five ambulances are on standby and rescue work continues.
Video: @Harish_Gilaipic.twitter.com/uLpFaJ4HhA
— The Hindu - Andhra Pradesh (@THAndhra) June 8, 2026
Political Leaders Express Grief, Demand Inquiry
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the mishap, and announced ex gratia of ₹2 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each of the deceased, and ₹50,000 to the injured.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock and grief over the loss of lives. In a post on X, he said he had spoken to the Visakhapatnam District Collector and City Police Commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi to coordinate a swift, multi-departmental relief operation, and had sent Home Minister V. Anitha and Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat to the spot to oversee the rescue.
The State government announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh each to the families of the dead, ₹2 lakh to the seriously injured and ₹1 lakh to those with minor injuries.
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…
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 8, 2026
Union Ministry of Heavy Industries (Steel) H.D. Kumaraswamy expressed his grief and ordered an air-ambulance to needy. He is expected to visit the spot on June 9.
Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat and Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha speak to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant officials after the accident on Monday. | Photo Credit: V. Raju
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition and YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy condoled the deaths of workers and demanded a comprehensive, transparent inquiry into the safety lapses. He stressed that worker safety must be treated as the highest priority in industrial zones and directed local party cadres to extend all possible support to the bereaved families.
విశాఖ స్టీల్ ప్లాంట్ లో జరిగిన ప్రమాదం నన్ను తీవ్ర దిగ్భ్రాంతికి గురి చేసింది. ఈ ప్రమాదంలో పలువురు కార్మికులు దుర్మరణం పాలయ్యారని తెలిసి కలత చెందాను. సంబంధిత అధికారులతో మాట్లాడి, అన్ని ప్రభుత్వ శాఖల సమన్వయంతో సహాయక చర్యలు చేపట్టాలని ఆదేశించాను.
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) June 8, 2026
విశాఖ స్టీల్ ప్లాంట్లో జరిగిన ఘోర ప్రమాదం అత్యంత విషాదకరం: వైఎస్ జగన్
విశాఖ స్టీల్ ప్లాంట్లో జరిగిన ఘోర ప్రమాదంలో పలువురు కార్మికులు మృతి చెందడం అత్యంత విషాదకరమని మాజీ ముఖ్యమంత్రి, వైఎస్సార్సీపీ అధ్యక్షుడు శ్రీ వైయస్ జగన్ తీవ్ర దిగ్భ్రాంతి వ్యక్తం చేశారు.
స్టీల్ మెల్టింగ్… pic.twitter.com/gSJbXOxUJb
— YSR Congress Party (@YSRCParty) June 8, 2026
Published - June 08, 2026 06:54 pm IST