Molten vat kills eight workers in horrific scenes at Indian factory

An incident involving a molten vat has burned at least eight workers alive in horrific scenes at a factory in India.

Shaky video footage from the scene, posted to X, shows chaotic scenes inside the factory at RINL Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

The ladle crane that lifts the molten steel reportedly became dislodged, spilling off tonnes of super hot liquid metal.

Eight nearby workers were killed instantly.

As many as six others were injured in the accident.

The footage on X shows fire and emergency services authorities rushing to the scene after workers had evacuated the building.

Indian news outlet WION reported that the death toll had risen to 10 after the “catastrophic industrial accident”.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Nidu released a statement saying he was distressed to hear news of the deaths.

“The accident at the Visakh Steel Plant has left me deeply shocked,” he said in a post on X.

“I am distressed to learn that several workers have lost their lives in this accident.

“I have spoken to the concerned officials and directed them to undertake relief measures in coordination with all government departments.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the “mishap” left him “saddened”.

He announced an ex-gratia payment equal to about $3000 Australian would be made to the next of kin of each worker killed in the incident.

The tragedy follows a series of industrial accidents across India in which workers have been killed.

Accidents at two separate fireworks factories in April and May killed dozens of workers.

In March, workers at an electric metre manufacturing factory in Delhi were injured after they were forced to jump from the roof when a fire broke out.

In July 2025, as many as 40 people were killed in a huge explosion and fire at a chemical plant near Hyderabad.