A MAJOR industrial tragedy struck the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) steel plant in Visakhapatnam on June 8 when an explosion triggered a massive fire and caused molten steel to spill inside the facility. RINL is the corporate entity of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP). Eight workers were killed and six others sustained injuries in the accident, officials said. The blast occurred at around 4.40 pm when a ladle carrying molten steel exploded, leading to the spillage of hundreds of tonne of molten metal.
According to sources, the injured workers suffered severe burn injuries. In an official statement, RINL confirmed that the deceased included five regular employees and three contract workers. A manager-level officer was also among those who lost their lives.
Dense smoke and towering flames engulfed the shop floor following the explosion, trapping several personnel inside the facility. Fire tenders and emergency rescue teams from the steel plant and state departments rushed to the spot and continued rescue and firefighting operations late into the night under hazardous conditions. Police officials overseeing the rescue efforts said the molten steel had been maintained at an ultra-high temperature of nearly 1,600 degrees Celsius before the spill, making access to the core blast zone extremely difficult.
Scenes of grief and anguish unfolded at the mortuary of the Visakha Steel General Hospital, where relatives gathered to identify the victims. The hospital premises echoed with cries of sorrow as families awaited confirmation of their loved ones’ identities.
Several family members said the bodies had been burnt beyond recognition. Among those waiting outside the mortuary was N. Appanna, whose brother, Nakka Ramana, was among the deceased. Struggling to contain his grief, Mr Appanna said his brother had worked at the steel plant for nearly 25 years. “We never imagined something like this would happen. It is devastating,” he said.
SAFETY NEGLECTED
Tension prevailed outside the hospital as workers, trade union representatives and political leaders gathered. Several workers alleged that manpower shortages, increasing workloads and inadequate maintenance may have contributed to the accident. They claimed that the section where the mishap occurred once had nearly 2,000 workers but now employed only around 700.
The tragedy has once again raised serious questions regarding safety standards, staffing levels and maintenance practices at one of the country’s largest public sector steel plants. Workers and trade union representatives have alleged that repeated neglect of safety concerns, coupled with manpower shortages and increasing workloads, has created hazardous working conditions.
CPI(M) DEMANDS COMPENSATION AND COMPREHENSIVE INQUIRY
The CPI(M) State Committee expressed profound grief over the tragic accident, and conveyed its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
The CPI(M) demanded compensation of ₹1 crore for the family of each deceased worker and employment for one eligible family member. It also called for compensation of ₹50 lakh for each injured worker and urged the authorities to ensure immediate and high-quality medical treatment for all those injured.
CPI(M) state secretary V Srinivasa Rao issued a press statement to this effect. The party alleged that the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant had been subjected to systematic neglect by both the central and state governments as part of efforts to facilitate its privatisation. Holding the governments responsible for the tragedy, the CPI(M) demanded that the Union minister concerned and the chief minister provide a detailed explanation to the public regarding the circumstances that led to the accident.
The Party called for an immediate and comprehensive inquiry into the causes of the accident and demanded stringent action against those found responsible. It criticised the government’s claims regarding modernisation packages, describing them as superficial and ineffective. The Party pointed out that frequent accidents at the plant were the result of outdated machinery, substandard materials, inadequate maintenance and persistent neglect of safety standards.
The CPI(M) emphasised that the latest tragedy underlined the urgent need to strengthen safety mechanisms, modernise equipment and ensure adequate staffing in critical operational areas to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
CITU DEMANDS JUDICIAL INQUIRY AND SAFETY AUDIT
A judicial inquiry must be ordered into the tragic accident at the Visakha Steel Plant, which was allegedly caused by management negligence, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) State Committee said. It demanded compensation of ₹5 crore for the family of each deceased worker. The management bears full responsibility for this tragic incident, the organisation said. The CITU State Committee demanded stringent action against the chairman and managing director (CMD) and other officials responsible for the prevailing safety lapses.
The CITU Andhra Pradesh Committee further demanded that a comprehensive safety audit be conducted across the Visakha Steel Plant to prevent the recurrence of such accidents. The organisation stressed that the recurring accidents at the steel plant highlight the need for immediate corrective measures, strict adherence to safety protocols and accountability on the part of the management and authorities responsible for ensuring the safety of workers employed in hazardous industrial operations.
