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Trapped gases triggered deadly Vizag Steel Plant blast, says preliminary inquiry
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According to the investigation report, a sudden explosion took place, causing the ladle to tip and molten steel to fall on those working on the floor below. (Express Photo) The deadly explosion at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL), also known as Visakhapatnam Steel Plant in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam, which killed eight workers, was caused by “sudden release of entrapped gases from liquid steel”, a preliminary investigation by the chief inspector of factories has found. According to the investigation report, the explosion took place at around 4.15 pm Monday when the full steel ladle was being “rotated and centred” for casting. “Before opening the slide gate”, a sudden explosion took place, causing the ladle to tip and molten steel to fall on those working on the floor below.With the explosion, “the overhead crane also caught fire”. A “ball of fire” rose from the explosion and extended up to the ceiling, a worker reported to the inspector of factories, the report read. Sources in the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant management said an external safety audit is held every year and internal inspections are conducted every three months by the safety engineering department of the plant, which is under the Union Ministry of Steel. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock and grief over the accident. Naidu also spoke with the Visakhapatnam district collector and police commissioner and directed them to provide assistance to the families of the victims. Officials briefed the Andhra Pradesh chief minister on the ongoing situation and relief operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his sadness at the loss of lives and announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. Former chief minister and YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy also expressed grief over the accident. Jagan demanded a comprehensive inquiry and called for strict action against those found responsible. He stressed that worker safety must remain the highest priority in all industrial establishments.Story continues below this ad In 2016, 16 workers died at the Vizag Steel Plant following the explosion of a newly commissioned oxygen plant. In December 2020, four workers were injured when molten steel spilt from one of the ladles at the same spot where the accident occurred Monday. © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South Indian affairs, specialising in the complex intersections of politics, education, and social justice. Experience & Career: Nikhila commenced her journalism career in 2007 as an education correspondent for The Times of India in Hyderabad,where she gained recognition for her coverage of student politics. Her professional trajectory includes a four-year tenure at The Hindu, where she focused on minority affairs and social welfare. In 2019, she took on a leadership role as the South Bureau Chief for The Quint, where she directed regional coverage across all five South Indian states. Her expansive career also includes a tenure at the BBC in New Delhi and contributions to prestigious international outlets such as The Sunday Times (London) and HuffPost India. Expertise & Focus Areas Nikhila’s reportage is marked by a deep-seated understanding of grassroots movements and institutional policy. Her core focus areas include: Regional Politics: Comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics across South India. Education & Student Movements: Chronicling the evolution of Indian academics and the rise of youth activism. Minority Affairs: Rigorous reporting on the welfare, rights, and challenges facing marginalized communities. National Beat: Elevating regional stories to national prominence through investigative and on-ground reporting. Authoritativeness & Trust A r
As authorities scramble to assess the situation, union leaders blame the accident on staff shortage. (Express photo)Hours after eight people were killed after molten metal fell on them at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam, trade union leaders at the plant blamed the accident on staff shortage amid ongoing privatisation efforts. “The number of workers has been decreasing at the plant even as the production output remains the same,” Ayodhyaram, a trade union leader at the plant, told The Indian Express.At least eight workers were killed and six injured when molten metal fell on them at the plant. Twenty workers were estimated to have been inside the unit at the time of the accident. The plant comes directly under the Ministry of Steel and is governed by a general body. As authorities scramble to assess the situation, union leaders blame the accident on staff shortage. “In the past, 6,000 contract workers were removed from their jobs, 2,000 took voluntary retirement and 5,000 retired, leaving just 8,800 workers to produce 18,000 tonnes of molten metal every day. No one is interested in knowing how we are meeting the target,” Ayodhyaram of the CITU said. “Accidents are bound to happen when workers’ welfare is not taken into consideration.” Ayodhyaram said he was at the plant when the accident took place. “I just saw people rushing out and rushing out on my own,” he said. For their part, sources said the steel plant conducts an external safety audit every year and internal inspections every three months through the plant’s safety engineering department. “This is a freak accident. There has been no breach of any safety protocol,” one management source said.Story continues below this ad Another trade union leader said the last safety audit at the plant was conducted in March 2026. “The audit did not show any lapses, we were told,” said M Rajasekhar, who is also INTUC’s national general secretary. According to workers, the steel plant remained at the heart of a controversy till 2025 because there “were efforts to privatise it”. Operational since 1991, the VSP remains India’s first shore-based integrated steel plant, with a capacity of 7.3 million tonnes per annum. The Centre first announced “strategic disinvestment” in 2021, citing mounting losses of Rs 20,000 crore by 2024. “There were massive protests against this and the plan was shelved. But recruitments froze even as we need more workers,” said INTUC’s Rajasekhar. Trade unions said that apart from compensation, the government should provide jobs to the kin of those killed and injured in the accident. “We need more workers. We need more permanent workers. A simple ex-gratia is not enough,” said Rajasekhar.Story continues below this ad The plant management said recruitments on compassionate grounds had taken place in the past and were likely to continue. “The government will compensate for the loss of lives,” a steel plant management source said. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu have offered condolences. “The accident at the Visakh Steel Plant has left me deeply shocked. I am distressed to learn that several workers have lost their lives in this accident. I have spoken to the concerned officials and directed them to undertake relief measures in coordination with all government departments,” Naidu said in a post on X. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. “Saddened by the mishap at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. Praying that the injured recover at the earliest. The local authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected,” the post further said. Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South I
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