Major Tragedy Averted at RINL: Charging Car Destroyed in Fire at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant
While no casualties or injuries have been reported, preliminary estimates suggest the loss could run into approximately ₹10 crore
A major industrial mishap was reportedly averted at Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) after a charging car operating at Coke Oven Battery No. 5 caught fire in the early hours of Sunday.
According to sources familiar with the incident, Charging Car No. 10 was engulfed in flames after a fire allegedly spread from the charging chute of Battery No. 5. The equipment was extensively damaged in the incident. While no casualties or injuries have been reported, preliminary estimates suggest the loss could run into approximately ₹10 crore, although the company has not officially confirmed the extent of the damage.
The exact cause of the fire is yet to be officially established, and an internal inquiry is expected to ascertain the sequence of events that led to the incident.
Employees and individuals familiar with plant operations have alleged that inadequate housekeeping and the accumulation of combustible material around the operational area may have contributed to the spread of the fire. They claim that regular cleaning and preventive maintenance could have helped contain or even prevent the incident.
Some employees have also alleged that the incident reflects a shortage of experienced contract manpower following the discontinuation of several housekeeping contracts during the tenure of former Acting CMD A.K. Saxena. According to these employees, repeated representations highlighting operational and safety concerns were made to the management, but no corrective action was taken.
These allegations, however, could not be independently verified, and RINL has not issued any official statement linking the incident to manpower shortages or housekeeping practices.
Industry experts note that coke oven batteries operate under extremely high temperatures, making strict adherence to housekeeping, preventive maintenance, and safety protocols essential to minimize operational risks.
The incident has once again brought the spotlight on industrial safety standards and maintenance practices in heavy engineering and steel plants. Employees are now demanding a comprehensive technical investigation to determine the root cause of the fire and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
RINL is yet to issue an official statement on the incident at the time of publication.
