PNS|Visakhapatnam
A fire broke out on Friday morning at the Steel Melting Shop-2 (SMS-2) of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, disrupting operations and damaging machinery and cables. Officials suspect an oil leak in Machine-2 may have caused the fire after coming into contact with sparks, which then spread to nearby equipment.
Firefighting teams responded quickly and managed to contain the blaze before it could reach adjoining units. “No injuries or casualties have been reported. All workers near the affected area were safely evacuated,” said a senior plant official. He added that emergency protocols were activated without delay, and a high-level team has been assigned to monitor the situation.
Although the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, early reports indicate serious damage to the electrical systems in SMS-2. The incident has drawn concern from local leaders and labour unions, who are calling for improved fire safety measures and stricter adherence to industrial safety standards.
