CITU reports 645 safety lapses at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant; ₹1 million for each blast victim

CITU State General Secretary Ch. Narasinga Rao addresses a press conference on the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) issue. File | Photo credit: V. Raju

The Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) on Thursday (July 9, 2026) intensified its protest against the management of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), demanding the immediate arrest of the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) following a series of fatal accidents at the plant.

In a press statement here, CITU State President Ch. Narasinga Rao and RKSV state secretary Kumar claimed that management’s “callous negligence” had made the workplace unsafe and that workers were no longer guaranteed a safe return home after their shifts.

Lack of accountability

Union leaders pointed to the June 8 accident that killed 10 workers. They said the commission of inquiry appointed by Union Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy is yet to release its report, a month after the accident.

According to CITU, the state factories department had earlier identified eight serious safety violations and issued a notice to VSP management on June 23, 2026. On December 1, 2025, the factory authorities flagged 645 safety deficiencies and asked for an explanation within 15 days, but the management allegedly did not respond.

Security failures

CITU said 12 workers died in various accidents in 2025 and that 37 court cases are pending for safety violations at the plant. The union attributed the June 8 accident to systemic failures, including poor quality raw materials, non-functional instrumentation since June 5 and the absence of basic safety equipment such as heat-resistant aprons and safety bucket covers.

“For just ₹2,000, a scoop cover could save lives,” Mr Narasinga Rao said, adding that the focus on cost-cutting and privatization efforts had compromised safety.

Comparison and requirements

The union drew a parallel with the 2020 LG Polymers gas leak, in which directors were arrested for criminal negligence. He questioned why similar action was not taken against VSP officials despite repeated deaths.

CITU demanded immediate arrest of VSP CMD for criminal negligence; compensation of ₹ 1 crore to the family of each dead worker and ₹ 50 lakh to the injured; and a complete overhaul of security measures and the restoration of adequate staffing in critical departments.

The union said staffing levels in security departments had fallen and that key operational areas were facing severe labor shortages compared to previous years. CITU has warned of intensifying protests if the Center and state governments continue to prioritize privatization over workers’ lives.

Published – 9 Jul 2026 12:37 PM IST