Taking a serious view over the explosion at oxygen plant in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, which claimed 11 lives and critically injured 9 others, the state government on Thursday ordered an inquiry and sought a comprehensive report over the mishap.
Expressing shock and grief over the incident, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy directed the authorities concerned to conduct an inquiry under the Factories Act and submit a report immediately.
The joint chief inspector of factories will conduct the inquiry while the Director of Factories will also take stock of the situation
Kiran Kumar Reddy also inspected the accident site along with Union Steel Minister B Kumar Prasad Verma and Pradesh congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana. However, the labour unions opposed the visit of the Chief Minister and raised slogans against him. Botsa Satyanarayana pacified the workers.
Earlier, Kiran Kumar Reddy visited Steel Plant Hospital where the injured undergoing treatment and enquired about their health condition.
He directed the hospital authorities to provide higher treatment for all injured.
PCC chief stated that the government would extend all assistance to those, who were burnt alive and take steps for not repeat of such incidents in future.
Opposition leader and Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu after inspecting the site alleged that the mishap occurred due to negligence of management.
Though mishaps occurred nine times in the plant, the management has failed to take any protective measures, he alleged.
He demanded that the government order judicial probe over the mishap and initiate serious action on those responsible for the mishap.
–Agencies