Fire at Surat steel plant kills four workers, one injured

A tragic fire broke out at the ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) plant in the Hazira industrial area of Surat, Gujarat, on Tuesday evening, resulting in the deaths of four contractual workers and injuries to another. The fire was caused by the unexpected spilling of burning coal, which ignited a blaze in one section of the plant. At the time of the fire, the four workers were performing maintenance on a lift near the Corex unit. The blaze claimed their lives, while a fifth worker sustained minor injuries and was treated at the plant's on-site hospital.

The incident occurred at approximately 6:00 PM during the restart of the Corex unit after a scheduled shutdown. The Corex unit, which is a critical part of the plant's operations, is used to produce hot metal in the steelmaking process. The fire spread rapidly, trapping the workers in the lift. Authorities, including local police and factory inspectors, have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the accident. No official accidental death report has been filed yet, according to the Hazira police station.

Three of the victims' bodies have been sent to a civil hospital for post-mortem examinations, while the fourth victim is yet to be identified. The incident involved contractual workers from a private company who were carrying out routine maintenance activities at the time of the accident. The plant's spokesperson has confirmed that the fire occurred due to equipment failure at the Corex unit during the restart process.

AM/NS India activated its emergency protocols immediately after the fire broke out, securing the affected area to prevent further risk to workers. The company has confirmed that safety procedures were followed, including the evacuation of personnel and the activation of firefighting systems. The company has initiated an internal investigation and is cooperating fully with the authorities to identify the cause of the fire. Additionally, AM/NS India has assured its commitment to providing support to the families of the deceased and the injured worker. The company also emphasized its focus on reviewing and enhancing safety protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.