Vizag blast: Probe panel to visit plant tomorrow

The panel comprises former Steel Authority of India Limited chairman S R Jain, chairman of Metallurgical and Engineering Consultants (MECON) K K Mehrotra and the HoD of the department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Delhi.

Visakhapatnam Steel Plant CMD A P Choudhary told reporters that the committee would probe the details and the causes behind the explosion and submit its report before July 18.

"Based on the report, corrective measures would be taken in future to avoid such accidents," Choudhary said, adding, the Steel Plant Board has decided to utilise the services of five Russian experts to conduct investigations.

Besides, the Board will also engage MECON as the third party auditing consultant before commissioning new units in the plant in future, he said.

Choudhary further said that additional compensation would be paid to the kin of the victims, besides the ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh announced by the Central government, and executive and non-executive category employment would be provided to the dependents, based on their educational qualifications.

The explosion had occurred at the 'oxygen control unit' near the Steel Melting Shop-II at Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) on June 13 night.

The Andhra Pradesh government had last week ordered an inquiry into the explosion under the Factories Act.