Visakhapatnam, June 8: A devastating industrial accident occurred at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant in Andhra Pradesh on Monday, resulting in the deaths of eight workers and injuries to six others. The incident took place when a ladle carrying molten steel at approximately 1,500 degrees Celsius exploded. Prime Minister Modi, along with other leaders, expressed their condolences over the tragedy.
According to officials, the accident happened around 4:15 PM during the process of lifting molten steel at the SMS-2 and STC-3 heat facilities of the steel plant. The explosion caused a significant amount of molten steel to spill, leading to chaos as employees scrambled to escape the danger.
Emergency teams, including plant staff, police, and firefighters, quickly arrived at the scene to control the fire and initiate rescue operations.
Among the deceased are six regular employees and two contract workers. The identified victims include Appa Rao, Prabhakar Rao, Krishna, Ramana, and Trinath.
M. Abhishek Kishore reported that six individuals were injured, with three admitted to KIMS Hospital and three others to Seven Hills Hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident on social media platform X, stating, “I am saddened by the accident at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the swift recovery of the injured. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected.”
The Prime Minister also announced that the families of the deceased would receive a compensation of two lakh rupees each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), while the injured would receive fifty thousand rupees each.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan also expressed his grief, stating he was deeply saddened by the loss of life at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. He extended his condolences to the bereaved families and wished for the quick recovery of the injured.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu conveyed his profound sorrow over the incident and sought updates on the rescue operations from officials. He directed all departments to coordinate efforts to assist those affected.
On X, the Chief Minister wrote, “The accident at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant has deeply shocked me. The news of multiple worker fatalities is extremely tragic. I have spoken with the relevant officials and instructed them to expedite relief efforts in coordination with all government departments.”
Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel, Bhupatiraju Srinivasa Varma, stated that the actual causes of the accident would be determined after a thorough investigation. He assured that the injured were receiving all possible medical assistance and that the central government was closely monitoring the situation.
He remarked, “I am deeply saddened by this tragic ladle explosion incident at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (RINL). My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the workers who lost their lives. Industrial safety is our top priority, and during this difficult time, we stand with the workers and their families.”
An investigation into the causes of the accident has commenced, and the administration has been instructed to review safety standards.
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