Eight workers lost their lives, and six others sustained injuries due to a ladle explosion carrying molten steel at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. The incident occurred as a significant amount of molten steel leaked following the ladle’s explosion, which was transporting steel at an extremely high temperature. The tragedy unfolded during the lifting of molten steel at the SMS-2 and STC-3 heat facility of the plant around 4.15 p.m.
The molten iron, reaching temperatures of about 1,500 degrees Celsius, caused panic within the plant as the explosion occurred. Personnel from the steel plant, along with police and firefighting teams, swiftly moved to control the fire outbreak. Among the deceased were six plant employees and two contract workers, with five of them identified as Appa Rao, Prabhakar Rao, Krishna, Ramana, and Trinath.
Visakhapatnam district Collector M. Abhishek Kishor reported that six workers were injured, with three receiving treatment at KIMS Hospital and the other three transferred to Seven Hills Hospital. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the incident, engaging with officials to address the situation and extend condolences to the workers’ families.
Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries & Steel, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Expressing deep sorrow over the tragic blast, he assured that all necessary medical support was being provided to the affected individuals. Industrial safety was underscored as a top priority, with a commitment to stand by the affected workforce and their families during this difficult time.
