VISAKHAPATNAM: In a ghastly industrial accident, nine workers lost their lives and five others were injured in a major explosion at the Steel Melting Shop-1 (SMS-1) of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, on Monday.
The accident occurred at around 4.15 p.m. while steel production operations were underway at Caster-2 of SMS-1. According to an official statement issued by RINL, the unit was under casting operations and preparations were being made to pour molten crude steel from a ladle into a tundish through a slide gate mechanism. Before the slide gate could be opened, a sudden and severe explosion took place.
The blast triggered a massive fireball that shot up to the ceiling of the shop floor. The intense heat and flames engulfed the area..Eight workers succumbed to their injuries at the site, while six others were rushed to hospitals for treatment. One of the injured later died at the hospital, taking the death toll to nine.
Four of the injured are stable, while one is critical.
Medical teams treat Vizag steel plant blast victims
Medical teams are continuing treatment and monitoring of the injured.
The deceased include five regular employees of the steel plant including Gonthina Bhanu Kumar, GV Appa Rao, M Krishna Nagu, K Prabhakar and Gold Kumar and three contract workers identified as Ramana, Trinadh and N Appala Raju. The identity of the ninth victim was officially confirmed as Suri Babu at the time of filing this report.
Emergency response teams, plant safety personnel and firefighters rushed to the scene immediately after the explosion. Rescue operations continued for several hours as officials worked to secure the affected section and assist injured workers.
Senior plant officials monitored the rescue and relief efforts. RINL has initiated an internal investigation into the incident.
In addition, a three-member external inquiry committee headed by the Director-in-Charge of Bokaro Steel Plant, a unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), has been constituted to investigate the circumstances that led to the accident. Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries HD Kumaraswamy is scheduled to visit Visakhapatnam following the accident. According to RINL, the Minister will visit the accident site and meet the injured workers undergoing treatment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. He announced an ex gratia of `2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased worker and Rs 50,000 to those injured.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation with officials and directed all departments to coordinate relief operations and ensure the best possible medical care for the injured.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan expressed shock over the incident and instructed officials to closely monitor rescue and relief measures. He conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and assured them of government support. Pawan Kalyan and Minister Nara Lokesh are scheduled to visit Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.
Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh also expressed grief over the loss of lives in the ghastly accident.
Former chief minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has described the accident as deeply tragic and called for a comprehensive inquiry into the causes of the mishap.