The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the fatal explosion at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) in Andhra Pradesh, which has claimed nine lives and left several workers with severe burn injuries. The apex human rights body issued a notice to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary on 11 June, seeking a detailed report within two weeks.

How the Explosion Unfolded

According to reports, the incident occurred on Monday in the steel melting shop of the plant when a ladle carrying approximately 150 tonnes of liquid steel at a temperature of around 1,600 degrees Celsius suddenly exploded. The blast caused molten steel to spill across the shop floor, resulting in severe burn injuries to workers present at the site. The initial death toll of eight subsequently rose to nine after an injured contract worker, identified as Pydiraju, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

NHRC Notice and What It Demands

Observing that the reported facts, if accurate, raise a serious concern of human rights violation, the NHRC has directed the Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary to submit a comprehensive report covering the current health status of the injured workers and details of ex gratia compensation paid — or to be paid — to the injured as well as to the next of kin of the deceased. The commission's intervention underscores the gravity of industrial safety failures at a major public-sector steel facility.

State Government's Compensation Announcement

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, following a visit to the accident site, announced ₹25 lakh compensation and a job in the plant for a family member of each worker who died. Workers undergoing treatment in intensive care units are to receive ₹10 lakh each. He further stated that families of permanent employees would receive benefits amounting to ₹1.72 crore under retirement-related provisions, while families of contract workers would receive ₹45.75 lakh. The plant management, he added, would bear the full cost of treatment for all injured workers. A three-member inquiry committee from Bokaro Steel Plant has been constituted to conduct a detailed probe into the incident.

Political Demands and Opposition Response

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who visited the injured workers at hospital, demanded an additional ex gratia of ₹1 crore for the families of the deceased — over and above the compensation and statutory benefits already announced. He also called for employment for a family member of each deceased worker and urged the state Assembly to pass a resolution opposing the privatisation of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Reddy argued that much of the compensation package highlighted by the government comprised insurance and statutory entitlements rather than additional humanitarian assistance.

Safety Protocol Allegations

The workers' union has alleged that plant management ignored prescribed safety protocols, directly contributing to the fatal accident. Five injured workers continue to receive treatment at two hospitals in Visakhapatnam, with at least one reported to be in a critical condition. This incident has reignited a long-running debate over worker safety standards at ageing public-sector steel plants, particularly amid ongoing discussions about RINL's privatisation.

The NHRC's two-week deadline for the state's response is expected to keep pressure on both the plant management and the Andhra Pradesh government to act swiftly on compensation and safety accountability.