Molten Metal Spill at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant Kills Eight Workers

Basic Incident Information

• Date of incident: Monday, 8 June 2026.

• Location: Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Andhra Pradesh, India.

• Incident type: Molten metal spill after ladle collapse in steel melting shop.

• Casualties: 8 killed, 6 injured, several with severe burns.

Incident Description

According to multiple reports, molten iron or steel spilled from a ladle/crane bucket while being moved inside the plant’s steel melting area. Preliminary accounts say the ladle carrying metal at about 1,600°C collapsed or exploded, causing a large quantity of molten metal to pour across the shop floor and onto workers below.

The incident triggered a major fire and rescue response, with fire tenders and plant personnel working to recover the victims and extinguish the blaze. Some reports say the fire burned for roughly 90 minutes and that several of the injured suffered extensive burns.

Casualties and Response

• Fatalities: 8 workers confirmed dead.

• Injuries: 6 workers injured, some critically.

• Response: Emergency crews and plant personnel responded immediately, but recovery was complicated by the intense heat and ongoing fire.

Preliminary Safety Focus

This incident highlights the high energy and severe burn risks of molten metal handling in steel plants. Critical controls include equipment integrity checks for ladles and cranes, exclusion zones below suspended loads, and strict restart/return-to-work procedures after interruptions.