New Delhi, June 11 (IANS). The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the horrific accident that took place at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant in Andhra Pradesh. The commission issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh and sought a detailed report within two weeks.
NHRC said that if the information given in the media report is true, then it constitutes a serious case of violation of human rights. The Commission has sought from the State Government complete details of the health condition of the injured workers, the treatment being given to them and the ex-gratia amount (compensation) given to the families of the deceased and the injured.
This tragic accident took place on Monday in the steel melting shop of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL). According to reports, a ladle carrying about 150 tons of molten steel with a temperature of about 1,600 degrees Celsius suddenly became victim of the explosion. The explosion was so severe that molten steel spread throughout the workplace and many employees present there got hit by it.
Earlier, eight workers were confirmed dead in the accident, but on Wednesday, injured contract worker Pyadiraju also died during treatment. With this the number of dead increased to nine.
According to officials, five injured workers are still admitted in two different hospitals, the condition of one of them is said to be very serious.
Labor organizations have alleged that the plant management ignored safety standards and prescribed safety protocols, which led to the fatal accident.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who visited the site after the accident, announced compensation of Rs 25 lakh each to the families of the deceased workers and a job in the plant to one of the family members.
At the same time, it was also announced to give assistance amount of Rs 10 lakh each to the injured admitted in ICU.
He said that the families of permanent employees will get benefits of up to Rs 1.72 crore under retirement provisions, while the families of contract employees will be given Rs 45.75 lakh. Also, the plant management will bear the entire cost of treatment of the injured. A three-member expert team of Bokaro Steel Plant has also been formed to investigate the accident.
At the same time, YSR Congress chief and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has demanded an additional ex-gratia amount of Rs 1 crore to the families of the deceased in addition to the announced compensation.
He also demanded to provide job to one family member of each deceased and bring a resolution in the Assembly against privatization of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
–IANS
VKU/ABM