Massive explosion at Vizag steel plant kills 16

The police said that a massive fire broke out in the SMS-2 plant, which was inaugurated this morning, when an oxygen cylinder exploded. The explosion was so powerful that a car went up in the air for several feet.

Most of the victims died when molten metal fell on them.

Several bodies were disfigured making their identification extremely difficult. The officials have described it as the biggest accident to occur in more than three decades-long history of the plant.

Apart from temporary workers and some regular employees, a few senior officials were also among the victims. Sources said that three divisional managers were also among those killed.

The bodies were sent to the government hospital and the injured have been rushed to the Seven Hills Hospital.

Chaos followed the explosion as the plant plunged in to darkness due to the break down in power supply. The relief machinery of the plant along with the fire brigade and the police swung in to action soon after the blast.