Eight workers were killed and several others injured after a ladle carrying molten steel exploded at a massive steel plant in India, sending burning metal spilling across the floor.
The deadly blast happened Monday at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant in Andhra Pradesh.
Officials said the explosion tore through the SMS-2 and STC-3 heat facilities after a ladle carrying molten steel suddenly failed. The steel, heated to more than 1,600 degrees Celsius, poured out across the work area as panicked employees tried to escape.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene to battle the fire, rescue survivors and secure the facility.
Circle Inspector Kesav Rao confirmed that the blast caused a molten steel leak, killing eight workers and injuring several others.
Police said the extreme heat from the molten metal left little chance of survival for anyone caught close to the ladle when it exploded.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said he was deeply saddened by the tragedy and had ordered officials to coordinate rescue and relief efforts.
“The accident at the Visakh Steel Plant has left me deeply shocked,” Naidu said. “I am distressed to learn that several workers have lost their lives in this accident. I have spoken to the concerned officials and directed them to undertake relief measures in coordination with all government departments.”
Naidu also promised support for the families of the workers who died, as well as those affected by the disaster.
Personnel from the steel plant worked alongside emergency responders to bring the fire under control and prevent further damage.
Authorities said their immediate priority was to secure the area and make sure other workers at the plant were safe.
Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, president of the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party and former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, also expressed grief over the deadly incident.
The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is one of India’s largest steel plants and has faced safety questions in the past.
The latest tragedy has renewed concerns about workplace protections at high-risk industrial sites, especially for workers handling molten metal and other dangerous materials.
Officials are expected to continue investigating what caused the ladle to explode and whether safety failures played a role in the deaths.
