11 charred to death in Vizag Steel Plant blast
14 Jun 2012
The death toll in Wednesday night's explosion in the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant in Andhra Pradesh has risen to at least 11; some reports put it higher. Two of the injured workers succumbed in hospital today.
The explosion occurred in the recently commissioned oxygen plant in the steel melting shop III unit. About 20 workers were injured. At the time of the accident, 31 workers, including deputy general managers, were on the night shift.
The explosion occurred when the officials were conducting a trial run of the oxygen plant. Most of those burned alive on Wednesday night were contract workers.
The toll could probably go up, as many of those not killed sustained 80-90 per cent burn injuries. Some bodies may not even have been recovered yet, as the plant was gutted and no one is sure how many people were near it.
Officials have confirmed that eight persons are under treatment in local hospitals, including the company's general manager (projects) D S Kalsi. Two deputy general managers in the construction wing were killed.
The massive blast led to a raging fire across the plant. All the workers and officials in the oxygen plant were charred to death. The Seven Hills Hospital in the city was full of the cries of the injured workers screaming in agony, according to reports from the scene.