Visakhapatnam steel plant blast: Pawan Kalyan and Lokesh meet injured and bereaved families

IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh, Union Minister of State Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, MP M Sribharat and TDP State President Palla Srinivasa Rao met the relatives of workers killed in the RINL steel plant blast in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. | Photo credit: V. Raju

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh on Tuesday (June 9, 2026) visited the workers injured in the Visakhapatnam steel plant blast and the families of those killed and assured them of the state government’s support.

Mr. Pawan Kalyan visited KIMS Hospital in Sheelanagar where some of the injured are being treated. He spoke to the workers, asked about their condition and the care they were receiving, and met their families. He also discussed with the doctors and evaluated the treatment. District Collector Abhishikt Kishore briefed him about the accident, rescue and relief work after the blast and the support provided by the district administration.

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan met the workers injured in the RINL steel plant blast at KIMS Hospital in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.

Video: Special arrangement pic.twitter.com/Mtq95VZAq6

— The Hindu – Andhra Pradesh (@THAndhra) June 9, 2026

Mr. Lokesh, accompanied by Andhra Pradesh MoS Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, State Home Minister V. Anitha, Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat and TDP State President Palla Srinivasa Rao, visited Seven Hills Hospital where several injured are being treated. He told the workers that the government would stand by them and ordered doctors to ensure the best care.

Deputy Chief Minister of the State Shri @PawanKalyan Garu visited the injured and their family members who were seriously injured in the steel plant accident at Visakhapatnam Kims Hospital. He asked about the manner of the accident. The doctors were asked about the state of health of the injured. In the hospital… pic.twitter.com/RSmkwWWJaw0

— Deputy CMO, Andhra Pradesh (@APDeputyCMO) June 9, 2026

He later visited the King George Hospital (KGH) and met the families of some of the slain workers and expressed his condolences. Families sought justice. Mr. Lokesh said that an investigation into the blast had begun and that strong action would be taken against those found responsible.

IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh met the relatives of workers killed in the RINL steel plant blast in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.

Photo: Special arrangement pic.twitter.com/VvJ9yjGjCR

— The Hindu – Andhra Pradesh (@THAndhra) June 9, 2026

Later, the Minister visited the King George Hospital (KGH) where he met the family members of some of the deceased workers. Condoling the loss of lives, Mr. Lokesh assured the bereaved families that the government would provide all necessary support for their welfare and rehabilitation.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao called for a high-level technical investigation into the cause of the accident and a safety audit of all heavy industries in the region.

The accident occurred on Monday (June 8, 2026) at around 4:15 PM at the Steel Melt Shop-1 (SMS-1) of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. During casting in Caster-2, a ladle of hot raw steel at a temperature of about 1,500 °C exploded before the gate could be opened. The explosion launched a fireball that engulfed Overhead Crane-2 and spilled molten metal onto the workshop floor. Eight workers were killed and six others were seriously injured.

It is painful like an accident in one’s own house – TDP state president, MLA Palla Srinivas

MLA Palla Srinivas expressed deep grief over the tragic accident at Visakha Steel Plant. It is highly likely that such an incident will occur while all production is moving forward. pic.twitter.com/4MwvavBeCP

— Telugu Desam Party (@JaiTDP) June 9, 2026

Published – June 9, 2026 12:45 PM IST