Union Minister visits incident spot, announces ex-gratia

Visakhapatnam: Union Minister for Heavy Industries HD Kumaraswamy assured that the government will extend every support to the bereaved family members who lost their kin in the tragic accident that took place at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant on Monday.

Visiting the incident spot along with Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, Home Minister V. Anitha and Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, TDP state president Palla Srinivasa Rao and MLC Vepada Chiranjeevi Rao, the Union Minister appealed to the employees not to panic but stay strong and united in tough situation such as this. Terming the incident that claimed eight lives and injured six others as unfortunate, the Union Minister assured that the government is with the victims and bereaved family members. "At a time when efforts are on to revive the plant to its full capacity, the accident left us all shocked. My earnest request to trade union leaders is not to spoil the revival efforts of the plant," the Union Minister requested.

Announcing an ex-gratia for the VSP accident victims, the Union Minister said Rs.25 lakh will be given to each family of the deceased and Rs.10 lakh to families of the injured irrespective of the fact whether the employee's on a regular pay scale or outsourced. "Along with allowing the bereaved family members in the Ukkunagaram quarters till the retirement period, financial assistance will be provided for their children's education as well. And a permanent job will be provided to each affected family," he stated.

Assuring that all necessary assistance will be provided for the future security of the victim families, Kumaraswamy said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound grief over the incident and announced a financial assistance of Rs.2 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Also, a special investigation committee comprising experts from other steel plants has been constituted to ascertain the causes of the accident."

The members of the committee will reach Visakhapatnam on Tuesday and inspect the incident site before submitting a comprehensive report on the causes that led to the accident and safety measures to be taken in future to avoid recurrence of such incidents, the Union Minister informed, reiterating that the Central Government accords top priority to the development of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, welfare and safety of its employees and will stand by the families of the victims in the hour of grief.

Eight workers charred to death, while six others sustained injuries as hot molten steel at a temperature of about 1,500 degree Celsius spilled on the floor following an explosion of the ladle carrying the hot liquid steel at SMS-1 of the plant.

According to officials, while there were many working at the shop at the time of incident, some of them left the place a few moments before.

The Union Minister visited the hospital where the injured victims are getting treated.