Workers Unions 'Poor Quality Chemicals Led To Blast At VSP'

The tragedy at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant which claimed lives of eight workers and left six others injured was triggered by an explosion. 

The workers unions of the Steel Plant said that for the first time in the nation, molten steel in the ladle exploded in the plant. Usually, molten steel leaks from the ladles but does not explode. 

Poor quality chemicals used in the processing of the steel led to the blast due to a chemical reaction, they alleged.

The workers complained that



molten steel leaked from the ladles over 27 times in the last two months. However, the workers escaped from major mishap during this time. 

The Union Ministry of Steel in a statement said: “At the time of the incident, casting operations were underway at Caster-2 of Steel Melt Shop-1. Before the slide gate could be opened to pour hot crude steel from the ladle to the tundish for further casting, a sudden and severe explosion took place. A large ball of fire rose to the ceiling of the shop, and Overhead Crane-2 subsequently caught fire.”