VISAKHAPATNAM: Eight workers were burnt alive, and another six received serious burn injuries in Vizag Steel Plant on Monday evening when the hot metal ladle fell on the ground in Steel Melting Shop (SMS).The ladle had fallen on the ground with a big thud and spread the fire in the area.Workers and plant management are in the process to identify the persons killed in the accident as the bodies are not in a shape to recognise the persons.

Fire tenders rushed the area and strove hard to douse the fire.The injured persons were identified as Ravuri Mallikharjuna Rao, P Srinivasa Rao, Arjun Appa Rao, Satyanand, Haribabu and Pydiraju.

All the injured persons had received more than 70% burn injuries and they were shifted to Steel Plant hospital.It is the major fire accident after 16 workers, including officers, were burnt alive in a massive explosion and fire following a huge explosion in the newly commissioned oxygen plant in the Steel Melting Shop III unit on June 14 of 2012.According to plant sources, the blast and fire took place in SMS-I at around 4 pm in the SMS-I when liquid hot metal (1600 degrees Celsius) carrying a ladle fell on the ground.

The At the time of the accident around 20 workers were in the area. The CITU union leader K Ayodhya Ram alleged that a blast occurred, and the ladle had fallen on the ground spilling the hot metal on the area where workers were attending the duties. He accused that the management has not taken proper maintenance works not only in SMS wing but also various wings.Steel Plant Management had not announced the casualty number officially.

But the union leaders who visited the SMS-I area counted the number of bodies on the ground and informed the police.

PM Narendra Modi expresses sadness over Vizag steel plant incidentPM Narendra Modi on Monday expressed grief over the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of those who died 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," Modi said in a post on 'X'.