8 charred after molten steel at 1,600°C falls on workers in VSP

Visakhapatnam: At least eight workers were killed and several suffered critical burn injuries after an explosion triggered a massive spill of superheated liquid metal at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited's Visakhapatnam Steel Plant in Andhra Pradesh on Monday afternoon.According to preliminary information, a ladle carrying liquid steel at temperatures of around 1,600°C suddenly exploded in the continuous casting department of the plant's steel melting facility around 4.15 pm. The explosion caused around 150 tonnes of molten steel to pour across the shop floor, killing eight workers on the spot and igniting a massive blaze. As many as 18 workers were in the area at the time. Fire tenders and plant workers rushed to the spot but found it difficult to retrieve the charred bodies as the fire continued for nearly 90 minutes.The toll is likely to rise as several workers suffered burns in what is said to be the worst accident in the steel plant in a decade. The last major accident at the plant happened on June 14, 2012, when 16 persons died in a massive explosion and fire at the newly commissioned oxygen plant in the melting shop.Sources said around 40 minutes before the fatal explosion, there was a blast and fire in the ladle furnace bay of one of the two steel melting shops. There were no injuries and the fire was immediately controlled. As work resumed, the explosion happened which caused the ladle carrying the hot liquid steel to topple and fall down.The deceased were identified as Gontina Bhanu Kumar (technician), K Prabhakar (general foreman), GV Appa Rao, M Krishna Nagu, and Gold Kumar, and contract workers Ramana, Trinath, and N Appala Raju. The injured workers, most of whom suffered over 70% burns, were identified as Ravuri Mallikarjuna, P Srinivasa Rao, Arjun Appa Rao, Satya Nanda, Pydiraju, and Hari Babu. They were first rushed to the steel plant hospital and later to KGH and other hospitals as their condition deteriorated.CITU leader K Ayodhya Ram alleged that a leakage in the ladle caused the blast."We have been alerting the plant management that safety protocols were not being followed due to staff shortage. Had the management undertaken proper maintenance, this tragic accident could have been prevented," he told TOI.INTUC leader Mantri Rajasekhar also accused the plant management of going slow on maintenance."So many accident have been happening but no remedial measures have been taken. Senior plant officials should be held accountable for this accident. They have been reducing staff strength but not following safety protocols. They are targeting high production but not looking after the critical aspect of maintenance," Rajasekhar alleged.There was no official statement from the plant authorities till late evening.Over 10,000 workers have either retired, taken voluntary retirement, or have been removed over the last three years at the steel plant, the workers' union leaders alleged, adding that manpower shortage was a key reason behind such accidents. They also claimed that the steel plant, which has been facing financial hiccups for the past three years, is purchasing lower grade raw material which could be triggering the frequent accidents.Chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the tragic accident and conveyed his condolences to the deceased workers' families. He directed all departments to coordinate the rescue and relief operations and ensure swift assistance to those affected. Home minister Vangalapudi Anita cut short her Vizianagaram visit and rushed to the Vizag Steel Plant to monitor the rescue operations.Union steel minister H D Kumaraswamy will be visiting the plant on Tuesday.