Vizag Steel Plant blast: Death toll likely to rise as condition of two workers critical, may be airlifted to Mumbai

Visakhapatnam: The death toll in the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) accident may go up as the condition of two workers, who suffered severe burns and are undergoing treatment at a corporate hospital here, is said to be critical.

Doctors are preparing to airlift Pydiraju and Suribabu, if necessary, to Mumbai for better medical care. They suffered 80% and 90% burns, respectively.

According to sources, three of the six severely injured workers suffered more than 80% burns when a hot metal-carrying ladle exploded and fell to the ground from a height of 20 metres in VSP’s SMS-I unit on Monday evening. Molten steel at 1,600 degrees C spilt on the unit’s floor, causing a massive blaze. Eight workers were charred to death in the accident. The VSP management has remained tight-lipped on the accident and the particulars of the deceased workers.

Meanwhile, Union steel minister HD Kumaraswamy announced the appointment of a three-member committee to inquire into the accident and submit a report. The committee comprises senior officials from Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) — Bokaro steel plant director in charge (DIC) Priya Ranjan, CGM Jitendra Kumar, and ex-CGM Gopal Singh.

The panel reached Vizag on Tuesday evening, visited the accident spot, and interacted with VSP workers before discussing various issues with Union minister of state for steel Bhupatiraju Srinivasa Varma.

Earlier, Kumaraswamy also visited the accident site in the wee hours of Tuesday and reviewed the situation. However, workers said the visit was made at midnight to avoid facing resentment from them and the families of the deceased. Kumaraswamy announced ₹25 lakh ex gratia to the families of each of the deceased and ₹10 lakh to the severely injured. He said VSP will bear the cost of treatment, and employment will be provided to the kin of the deceased workers.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh ex gratia to the kin of the deceased workers. Permanent employees will get about ₹1.5 crore in compensation, while outsourced employees will get around ₹40 lakh in compensation, which includes insurance.

Families of the deceased will be permitted to retain their quarters in VSP’s township till the notional date of superannuation. Family members, residing outside the township, have also been offered quarters as per entitlement.

Meanwhile, IT and education minister Nara Lokesh and deputy CM Pawan Kalyan visited the injured in hospitals and promised support to the families of the deceased. They said it would be apt to comment on the accident after the findings of the expert committee are out. Even before the facts could come out, it is incorrect to level allegations and create imaginary stories and make comments, they added.

Pawan Kalyan said the accident should be investigated from all angles, and that such mishaps should not occur in future. “I spoke to the workers. A few of them have expressed concern over improper safety standards and age-old machinery,” he said.