Govt announces jobs for families of Steel Plant accident victims

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh IT and Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh on Tuesday assured that the NDA coalition government would stand firmly by the families of workers who lost their lives in the tragic Visakhapatnam Steel Plant accident and provide all necessary support to the injured.

After visiting the victims undergoing treatment at KIMS Hospital in Visakhapatnam, Lokesh said the government had taken an unprecedented decision to provide permanent employment to one member from each deceased worker’s family, irrespective of whether the victim was a permanent employee or a contract worker. He described the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at securing the future of affected families.

Lokesh said Union Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who visited the accident site on Monday, had announced an additional ex gratia of Rs. 25 lakh for each bereaved family. He revealed that when officials raised procedural concerns regarding permanent jobs, Kumaraswamy assured that he would take the matter to the Union Cabinet if necessary and ensure the commitment was fulfilled.

The minister said immediate relief measures were already underway. “The accident occurred at 4:10 p.m., and district officials, ministers, MPs and senior leaders rushed to the site. Following directions from the Union Steel Minister, Rs. 25 lakh compensation will be credited to the families of all eight deceased workers without delay. Additional benefits under Provident Fund and Steel Plant regulations will also be provided,” he said.

Lokesh stated that a high-level inquiry committee comprising three senior officials had been constituted to determine the exact cause of the accident. Preliminary observations indicate that molten steel appears to have burst outward rather than leaked or overflowed. The committee will interact with workers and submit a detailed report, based on which further action will be taken.

Sharing an emotional moment from his hospital visit, Lokesh said an injured worker, Srinivas, appealed not for himself but for the protection of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. “His concern was for the future of thousands of families dependent on the plant. His words deeply moved me,” Lokesh said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to safeguarding the steel plant and supporting its workforce.