Visakhapatnam: Confusion prevailed for hours among workers and their relatives over the industrial accident at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) on Monday, as there was no clarity about the injured persons. There was initial confusion over the death toll and number of injured in the accident. After hours of waiting, officials confirmed that eight persons died and six others were critically injured, said Rajesh Kumar, a worker at VSP. There was similar uncertainty over the circumstances leading to the mishap, as all the injured were undergoing treatment and were in a state of shock, he added.
While three injured workers — G Suribabu, Pydiraju and P Srinivasa Rao — were shifted to MGM Seven Hills Hospital in Vizag, another three workers — Arjuna Appa Rao, Mallikarjuna Rao and Satyanarayana — were moved to KIMS Hospital. Eight other injured workers were taken to steel plant hospital for treatment.
Relatives of the injured said they were unaware of the exact cause of the accident and learnt from other workers that a blast triggered a massive fire, spilling hundreds of tonnes of molten steel across the shop floor. “When I was at home on Monday evening, I received a call that my friend Satyanarayana had suffered burns in the blast and was shifted to a private hospital. He suffered burns on his back and his condition is said to be stable,” said Praveen, a VSP worker.
Workers and relatives blamed poor maintenance and reduced manpower in key departments for the repeated accidents at the plant. They alleged that the management had failed to replace ageing machinery despite recurring mishaps and was trying to downplay safety lapses contributing to such tragedies. All the bodies were charred beyond recognition, indicating the intensity of the accident, they added.
Trade union leaders staged a protest and opposed the shifting of the bodies to the morgue, demanding strict action against the management. They also sought ₹1 crore compensation for families of the deceased and ₹50 lakh for those injured.
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About the Author: Nalla Ram Babu is a Special Correspondent, at the Times of India-Visakhapatnam. He reports on crime, rural development, road transport, Indian Navy, sea food industry, weather, research in agriculture, legal, civic issues and data-driven stories. He holds postgraduate degree in journalism & mass communication.
