A massive fire broke out at the Visakha Steel Plant on Tuesday morning, sparking panic among workers and residents nearby. The blaze started in the coal reserves at the Raw Material Handling Plant (RMHP) section, where large quantities of coking coal were stored.
According to officials, flames erupted suddenly, engulfing the area with thick smoke. Firefighters rushed to the spot and immediately began efforts to control the fire. Several plant staff also joined the attempts to stop the flames from spreading further. The atmosphere turned tense as heavy smoke blanketed the surroundings.
Preliminary reports suggest the fire may have been caused by spontaneous combustion triggered by high temperatures and steam in the coking coal. Authorities are investigating the exact reason behind the sudden ignition. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far, bringing some relief to both workers and management.
Fire services continued operations to cool down the coal reserves and prevent further escalation. Officials assured that the situation was being brought under control. The incident highlights the safety challenges in handling combustible materials at large-scale industrial plants like Visakha Steel.
