India: Preliminary probe says trapped gases caused deadly blast at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant
A preliminary inquiry has said a deadly explosion at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd plant in Visakhapatnam, in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, was caused by the sudden release of entrapped gases from liquid steel. The blast killed eight workers at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, also known as RINL, and sent molten metal onto people working below. The incident happened on Monday afternoon during casting operations at the steel complex.
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According to the investigation report by the chief inspector of factories, the explosion took place at about 4.15 pm while a full steel ladle was being rotated and centred. The report said the blast happened before the slide gate was opened, causing the ladle to tip and molten steel to fall on workers on the floor below. It also said the overhead crane caught fire, and a worker described a ball of fire rising to the ceiling.
The plant is under the Union Ministry of Steel, and management sources said external safety audits are carried out every year while internal inspections are conducted every three months by the safety engineering department. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said he was shocked and grief-stricken, and spoke with the district collector and police commissioner to direct assistance for the victims' families. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed sadness at the loss of life and announced ex gratia payments of Rs 2 lakh for each of the deceased workers and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
The latest findings add detail to an accident that has already raised questions about industrial safety at one of India's major steel facilities. Heavy industry sites handling molten metal carry obvious risks, and the scale of the fire response underlines how quickly such incidents can spread through a production area. The fact that the blast occurred during routine casting work will likely intensify scrutiny of operating procedures and oversight at the plant.
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The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant has faced serious accidents before. In 2016, 16 workers died after an explosion at a newly commissioned oxygen plant, and in December 2020 four workers were injured when molten steel spilled from one of the ladles at the same spot mentioned in the latest report. Those earlier incidents are likely to shape the response to this case, especially as officials and workers assess whether existing safety checks were sufficient.
Former chief minister and YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy also called for a comprehensive inquiry and strict action against those responsible. He said worker safety must remain the highest priority in industrial establishments. What remains unclear is whether any further injuries will be confirmed, whether investigators will identify specific safety lapses, and what corrective steps the plant will be required to take next.
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