Visakhapatnam | A sudden, "severe" explosion in Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (Vizag Steel Plant) here killed eight workers and injured six more on Monday.

According to a Press Information Bureau press release, the explosion occurred around 4:15 pm in the steel plant's Steel Melt Shop-1.

"Before slide gate opening to pour hot crude steel from Ladle to Tundish, which could eventually have gone to caster, sudden severe explosion took place. Eight persons succumbed to injuries. Six more persons are injured and admitted to the hospital undergoing treatment," it said.

Following the explosion, a severe ball of fire rose up to the ceiling and the overhead crane caught fire.

"RINL is investigating the accident. In addition, a 3-member external enquiry committee led by Director-in-charge Bokaro of SAIL has also been assigned to enquire into the accident," said the press release.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident and also extended ex-gratia to the kin of the deceased and injured workers.

"Saddened by the mishap at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. Praying that the injured recover at the earliest," he said in a post on X.

An ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from Prime Minister National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased, he said, adding that the injured would be given Rs 50,000.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the steel plant accident left him deeply shocked.

"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," the CM said in a post on X.

According to Visakhapatnam collector M Abhishikth Kishore, two of the six injured are in a critical condition while the remaining are out of danger.

He observed that the six injured workers were shifted to two private hospitals in the port city.

Kishore said the situation is under control and other operations in the affected facility are suspended, leaving "no more scope for further accidents."

According to the police, molten iron spilt on to workers.

Police said the molten iron was extremely hot at about 1,600 degrees Celsius.

Minister of State for Steel B Srinivasa Varma told reporters that Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel H D Kumaraswamy will reach here by midnight.

"Today's disaster in the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is the most unfortunate development. How did the blast occur or if the ladle had broken, we will try to ascertain these causes in a day or two," he said, adding that he will also go to the port city.

Right now, the accident site is out of bounds, he said, observing that they will review the situation in the plant and try to take necessary actions.

Meanwhile, a representative of the steel plant workers told a vernacular television that molten metal brought from the blast furnace is normally reheated to extremely high temperatures before being transported in a ladle to another unit for processing.

He said that the molten steel spilled from the ladle during the transfer process, triggering a massive fire and forcing workers in the vicinity to flee.

"Three workers died on the spot and some of the injured succumbed while being shifted to the hospital," he said.

Incidentally, the accident occurred during a shift-change period, making it difficult to immediately ascertain the exact number of personnel present in the area at the time of the incident.

However, the latest incident is being described as unprecedented in terms of a ladle-related accident involving molten steel.

The ladle carrying liquid steel is generally transported for more than 100 metres before the molten metal is poured into a machine where it is converted into solid steel products, a worker told the vernacular news channel.

Further, some workers flagged manpower shortages and maintenance issues.

Meanwhile, CM Naidu postponed a public meeting scheduled in Tirupati on June 9 to celebrate two years of the NDA coalition government due to the steel plant disaster.