Visakhapatnam, June 9 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and state Minister Lokesh on Tuesday called on the workers who were injured in an accident at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

He visited KIMS Icon Hospital and called on the injured. He also interacted with their family members.

The Deputy CM spoke to doctors and inquired about the condition of the injured.

He assured the families of the victims that the government will bear the medical expenses and will support them in all ways.

Later, talking to the media, Pawan Kalyan termed the accident, which claimed the lives of eight employees and left six others injured, as painful.

He said that ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh each will be paid by the steel plant to the next of kin of the deceased, while Rs 10 lakh assistance will be provided to every injured.

The Deputy CM promised that measures will be taken to prevent such accidents in future. He said the government will find out if the management had taken all the safety measures.

He said there would be follow-up action on the report to be submitted by a committee constituted by the Union Steel Ministry to conduct the probe. He underlined the need to go into all aspects during the investigation.

Pawan Kalyan noted that everyone wants the steel plant to remain in public sector and gave an assurance that it will remain a public sector company.

He said a meeting will be conducted with the employees of the steel plant to know their problems.

He termed the frequent industrial accidents in and around Visakhapatnam as alarming and stressed the need for management of the industries to do a safety audit and also for the officials concerned to ensure compliance with all safety regulations.

State Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar and Visakhapatnam South MLA Vamsikrishna Srinivas Yadav accompanied Pawan Kalyan.

Eight persons were killed and six others injured after a ladle carrying molten steel exploded at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant on Monday.

The accident occurred when a large quantity of molten steel leaked after the explosion of the ladle, which was carrying steel at a very high temperature.

According to officials, molten iron was extremely hot at about 1,500 degrees Celsius.

Earlier, Minister for Human Resources Development and Information Technology Nara Lokesh consoled the families of the deceased at King George Hospital (KGH) and called on the injured undergoing treatment at KMS Hospital and Seven Hills Hospital.

Accompanied by Union Minister of State for Steel Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, state Home Minister Anitha, and others, Lokesh inquired about the health condition of the injured and directed the doctors to provide better medical care. He assured that the government will stand by the affected families in every possible way.

–IANS

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