Jagan Mohan Reddy blames safety lapses for deadly Vizag Steel Plant blast

YSR Congress Party chief Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday blamed alleged safety lapses and poor maintenance practices for the recent explosion at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, which claimed the lives of nine workers and injured six others.

The explosion occurred on June 8 at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, triggering concerns over industrial safety and working conditions at one of India's major steel manufacturing facilities.

After meeting the families of the deceased workers, Jagan alleged that neglect of safety standards, maintenance procedures, and employee welfare under the current TDP-led NDA government contributed to the tragedy.

"The present government's neglect of safety standards and employee welfare has pushed the steel plant into a crisis, culminating in this tragic accident," he said during a press conference in Visakhapatnam.

The former chief minister expressed concern over the condition of the injured workers, including one employee reportedly suffering from severe burn injuries. He also questioned the treatment and welfare measures available to steel plant employees.

Jagan claimed that the workforce at the steel plant has reduced significantly over the past two years, increasing pressure on the remaining employees. According to him, thousands of contract workers, employees under voluntary retirement schemes, and retirees have exited the organisation, reducing overall manpower.

He further alleged delays in salary payments and the withdrawal of several employee benefits, including bonuses, medical facilities, House Rent Allowance (HRA), Leave Travel Concession (LTC), and other incentives.

The YSRCP leader also raised questions over the utilisation of the ₹11,440 crore financial package announced for the steel plant. He alleged that the funds were primarily used for debt reduction, GST liabilities, and voluntary retirement payouts rather than safety improvements, maintenance upgrades, and worker welfare initiatives.

Referring to the accident, Jagan suggested that operational deficiencies, raw material handling issues, or maintenance failures could have contributed to the blast during the transfer of molten metal. According to his claims, liquid metal overflowed from transport containers, leading to a powerful explosion that resulted in multiple casualties.

Calling for accountability, Jagan urged both the Andhra Pradesh government and the Centre to ensure justice for the victims' families and implement stronger safety measures to prevent similar industrial accidents in the future.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the exact cause of the explosion.