Survivors Recount Chaos After Steel Plant Mishap

Visakhapatnam: Workers who survived the accident at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant described scenes of confusion and panic after a molten steel blast in the steel melting shop on Monday.

According to employees, the blast triggered a fire and dense smoke, making it difficult for workers to move to safety and assess the situation inside the unit.

“There was smoke all over the place and the workers were blinded before they succumbed to the fire,” said Sudhakar, a worker who sustained minor injuries in the incident.

State home minister Vangalapudi Anitha said the situation at the site was marked by confusion due to heavy smoke and intense heat following the accident.

Senior trade union leader Varasala Srinivasa Rao said around 40 workers were assigned to the section at the time of the incident. He noted that about 15 workers had stepped out for a tea break shortly before the mishap occurred.

“It was a miraculous escape for them to go out at the time of the incident,” Srinivasa Rao said.

A senior steel plant official said authorities are verifying worker attendance and deployment details as part of the inquiry into the accident.

Investigations are underway to ascertain the circumstances leading to the mishap.