VISAKHAPATNAM — An industrial accident at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL)-run Visakhapatnam Steel Plant on Monday evening has claimed the lives of eight workers and left several others injured, according to preliminary information from officials.

The incident occurred around 4:40 PM in the Steel Melting Shop (SMS) unit during routine operations. Officials said an industrial ladle carrying molten steel reportedly malfunctioned and fell, leading to a spill of hot metal within the working area.

Plant authorities stated that emergency response teams, including internal safety personnel and fire services, were immediately deployed to control the situation and carry out rescue operations. Injured workers were shifted to the plant hospital, while some were referred to other medical facilities in Visakhapatnam for advanced treatment.

Authorities confirmed that a number of workers sustained injuries, with the condition of some reported to be critical. The identities of the deceased and injured are being verified.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the incident and announced ex-gratia assistance of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the incident and directed officials to ensure proper medical care for the injured and assist affected families.

Opposition leaders, including Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, also expressed condolences and called for a detailed investigation into the cause of the accident.

Trade union representatives have raised concerns regarding safety standards and maintenance practices at the plant and have demanded a thorough inquiry and compensation for affected families.

Officials said the exact cause of the accident is under investigation, and a detailed technical inquiry will be conducted to determine whether it was caused by equipment failure or operational issues.