Vizag Steel Plant accident kills at least eight workers as molten iron spills from crane-operated bucket

At least eight workers have lost their lives and several others feared trapped after molten iron spilled at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant on June 8, triggering a major industrial accident at the facility operated by Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL).

According to officials, the accident occurred when molten iron being transported in a bucket by a crane spilled during operations inside the plant. Rescue teams were immediately deployed and emergency response efforts continued into the evening.

Officials confirmed that eight bodies had been recovered from the site, while rescue operations were still underway. Authorities indicated that the death toll could rise as teams searched the affected area.

Reports from local authorities said the accident took place in one of the steel melting units, where a ladle or container carrying molten metal malfunctioned, causing the extremely hot material to spill onto workers nearby. The molten iron was reportedly being transported at temperatures of around 1,600 degrees Celsius.

Several workers sustained burn injuries and were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. The exact number of injured workers was not immediately clear, with different reports citing varying casualty figures as rescue efforts continued.

The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, one of India's largest steel manufacturing facilities, has witnessed industrial accidents in the past involving molten metal handling operations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced ex gratia assistance from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. The Prime Minister's Office said the next of kin of each deceased worker would receive ₹2 lakh, while those injured would be given ₹50,000.

Authorities have launched an inquiry into the incident to determine the cause of the spill and assess whether any safety lapses contributed to the accident.