8 killed as molten steel spills on workers after Visakhapatnam plant blast

A catastrophic accident at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) plant in Visakhapatnam on Monday resulted in the deaths of at least eight workers and injured six others. The incident occurred when a ladle carrying approximately 150 tonnes of molten steel exploded, spilling the superheated metal onto workers.

The accident happened around 4:15 p.m. as the molten steel, heated to nearly 1,500 degrees Celsius, was being transported to a casting unit. This marks the most severe accident at the 34-year-old plant in 14 years, with a previous incident in 2012 claiming 19 lives.

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Eight workers were killed and six others sustained injuries in the accident.

Union Minister of State for Steel, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, who is overseeing the response, confirmed the fatalities and injuries. He stated that the condition of four injured workers is stable, while two remain critical. The government has prioritized medical treatment for the injured, with an air ambulance on standby for advanced care if needed.

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Providing the best possible medical treatment to the injured is our top priority.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and announced compensation for the victims. Families of each deceased worker will receive Rs. 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF), and the injured will receive Rs. 50,000. A detailed investigation is being launched to determine the exact cause of the explosion, examining potential technical failures, such as snapped wires or other mechanical malfunctions during the molten steel transfer.

Trade union leader D. Adinarayana identified the deceased workers, including five regular employees and three contract workers. The accident occurred in the Continuous Casting Department of the plant.

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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 would be given Rs. 50,000.