Several people are feared dead and several injured after a large amount of molten metal fell on them at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) plant in Andhra Pradesh, also known as the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, on Monday evening.
A local union leader, requesting anonymity, told HT that the accident occurred around 4.30 pm at the plant’s Continuous Casting Department (CCD) under the Steel Melting Shop (SMS) division and nine people were feared dead.
A union leader who requested to remain anonymous said: “A ladle carrying molten steel suddenly malfunctioned, causing a large amount of liquid metal to spill. The intense heat and resulting fire trapped workers in the vicinity, resulting in many casualties.”
According to another account, the accident occurred during operations related to the NTC-3 Heat F. “A large amount of molten steel leaked while it was being lifted, causing a massive fire,” another union leader said.
Emergency response teams and firefighters rushed to the scene immediately after the accident and began rescue and firefighting operations. The injured workers were transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment.
While trade union leaders claimed to have recovered nine bodies, the RINL management is yet to issue an official statement confirming the death toll.
The authorities are expected to conduct a detailed investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident and determine whether any security lapses contributed to the tragedy.
The incident sparked anxiety among employees and their families, while raising concerns about workplace safety procedures at the steel plant.
More details are awaited as rescue and evaluation operations continue.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the incident. “He spoke to the steel plant authorities and inquired about the accident. He asked the district authorities to rush to the scene and carry out rescue operations,” an official statement said.
