3-member panel to probe Vizag Steel Plant accident

Visakhapatnam: Union minister for steel and heavy industries HD Kumaraswamy announced the appointment of a three-member committee to probe the tragic accident at Vizag Steel Plant that left eight workers charred to death and six others injured. The panel, comprising experts and senior officials from steel plants across the country, is expected to visit the site on Tuesday and Wednesday, inspect the Steel Melting Shop‑1 (SMS‑1), and interact with workers, union leaders, and management before submitting its report.The accident occurred when a ladle carrying molten metal at 1600°C fell after a massive explosion in SMS‑1, spreading fire across the unit.Kumaraswamy announced ₹25 lakh ex‑gratia to the families of each deceased worker, including contract staff, and ₹10 lakh to severely injured persons. The plant will bear the treatment costs. Families of deceased employees will receive one permanent job, compensation packages (₹1.5 crore for permanent staff, ₹36 lakh for contract workers), and housing benefits in the Steel Plant Township. Children’s education will continue on par with VSP employees.Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier announced ₹2 lakh for families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the PM’s relief fund.The steel minister, accompanied by civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu, state home minister V Anita, and Visakhapatnam MP M Sribharat, visited the accident site in the early hours of Tuesday and met the injured at the plant hospital.Speaking to the media, Kumaraswamy called it a “tragic incident” and urged workers and unions to remain united. “The govt is committed to the revival of VSP. The committee will submit recommendations, and we will follow them to prevent such accidents in future,” he said.Later, Union minister of state for steel and heavy industries Bhupatiraju Srinivasa Varma also visited the site. Workers alleged that ministers arrived at midnight to avoid facing resentment from employees and bereaved families.