Andhra Pradesh: Major accident at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant: Molten iron spills onto workers; 9 meet a tragic end
A major accident occurred on Monday at the steel plant in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Molten iron, heated to approximately 1600°C, spilled onto workers at the facility. Nine workers lost their lives in the incident, while several others sustained injuries. All the injured have been admitted to the hospital for treatment.
According to reports, molten iron was being transported from one location to another in a large bucket using a crane. During the process, the bucket lost its balance, causing the molten iron to spill onto the employees working below.
The accident took place at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) steel plant. Chaos ensued within the plant premises following the incident. Relief and rescue teams immediately arrived at the scene, evacuated the injured, and transported them to the hospital.
Workers and plant management are in the process to identify the persons killed in the accident as the bodies are not in a shape to recognise the persons.
A trade union leader stated, "A ladle carrying molten steel suddenly malfunctioned, causing a large quantity of molten steel to spill. The intense heat and the resulting fire engulfed nearby workers, leading to multiple casualties." Another trade union leader mentioned, "A massive leak occurred while lifting the molten steel, triggering a severe fire."
Rescue and firefighting operations launched
Immediately after the incident, emergency response teams and firefighters arrived at the site and launched rescue and firefighting operations. The injured workers were admitted to nearby hospitals for treatment. While trade union leaders have claimed that nine bodies were recovered, the RINL management has not yet issued an official statement confirming the death toll.
CM expresses grief
The incident has caused anxiety among employees and their families, raising questions regarding workplace safety measures at the steel plant. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the accident. An official statement noted, "He spoke with steel plant officials and gathered details about the incident. He instructed district officials to immediately reach the site and initiate rescue operations."