CITU State general secretary Ch. Narasinga Rao addresses a press conference on the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) issue. File
| Photo Credit: V. Raju
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) on Thursday (July 9, 2026) stepped up its protest against the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) management, seeking the immediate arrest of the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) after a series of fatal accidents at the plant.
In a press statement here, CITU State president Ch. Narasinga Rao and State secretary R.K.S.V. Kumar alleged that the management’s “callous negligence” had made the workplace unsafe, and that employees were no longer assured of a safe return home after their shifts.
Lack of accountability
The union leaders pointed to an accident on June 8 that killed 10 workers. They said the probe committee appointed by Union Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had yet to release its report, a month after the accident.
According to CITU, the State’s Factories Department had earlier identified eight serious safety violations and issued a notice to the VSP management on June 23, 2026. On December 1, 2025, factory authorities had flagged 645 safety lapses and sought an explanation within 15 days, but the management reportedly failed to respond.
Safety failures
CITU said 12 workers died in various accidents in 2025, and that there were 37 court cases pending over safety violations at the plant. The union attributed the June 8 accident to systemic failures, including poor quality of raw materials, malfunctioning instrumentation since June 5, and the absence of essential safety gear such as heat-resistant aprons and ladle safety covers.
“For a mere ₹2 lakh, a ladle cover could have saved lives,” Mr. Narasinga Rao said, adding that the focus on cost-cutting and the pursuit of privatisation had compromised safety.
Comparisons and demands
The union drew a parallel with the 2020 LG Polymers gas leak, in which directors were arrested for criminal negligence. It asked why similar action had not been taken against VSP officials despite the recurring deaths.
The CITU sought the immediate arrest of the VSP CMD for criminal negligence; compensation of ₹1 crore for the family of each dead worker and ₹50 lakh for the injured; and a complete overhaul of safety measures and restoration of adequate staffing in critical departments.
The union said staff strength in the safety departments had fallen, and that key operational areas faced severe manpower shortages compared with previous years. CITU warned of stepping up protests if the Centre and State governments continued to prioritise privatisation over the lives of workers.
Published – July 09, 2026 12:37 pm IST
