Visakhapatnam: A significant fire erupted on Friday at the Vizag Steel Plant, causing dense smoke to blanket the surrounding areas. The blaze reportedly originated in the SMS-2 (Steel Melting Shop) unit, where flames were seen leaping high into the air.
Emergency response teams immediately arrived at the scene and are currently working to contain the fire. The intensity of the flames has resulted in substantial emission of smoke.
Authorities are yet to confirm whether any employees were present in the affected area at the time of the incident. The exact cause of the fire is also yet to be determined.
The incident comes just four days after another dangerous episode was narrowly avoided at the plant. On Sunday, approximately 300 truckloads of molten steel spilled during a transfer operation from a blast furnace to the Turbo Ladle Car (TLC) meant for the SMS unit. A breach in the TLC led to the steel spilling out, igniting flames that damaged cabling and tracks. Fortunately, there were no injuries in that event.
