Visakhapatnam: The Centre has announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh for the families of each worker killed in the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (Vizag Steel Plant) accident, besides permanent employment to one family member and other support measures, according to Union Steel Minister H D Kumaraswamy.
A severe explosion erupted at the Steel Melt Shop-1 of the plant during casting operations involving molten steel on Monday evening, killing eight workers and injuring six others. The blast triggered a massive fire.
Read more: Eight workers killed in Vizag Steel Plant as molten iron spills; PM, CM condole deaths
RINL authorities have launched investigations into the cause of the accident.
"We will provide Rs 25 lakh ex gratia to the family of each deceased employee, whether regular or outsourced. One member of every affected family will be given permanent employment and children will be provided free education," Kumaraswamy said, addressing a press conference late on Monday.
Kumaraswamy, accompanied by Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, Vizag MP M Sribharat and Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, inspected the accident site at RINL.
The union steel minister expressed grief over the deaths of eight workers in the explosion and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.
He said the compensation package would be in addition to statutory benefits such as insurance, provident fund, gratuity and other entitlements due to the victims' families.
According to Kumaraswamy, the families of the deceased will be allowed to continue residing in the steel plant quarters till the notional date of superannuation of the deceased employees.
He said family members residing outside the township would also be offered quarters as per entitlement if they wished, while children of the deceased would be allowed to continue their education on par with RINL (Vizag Steel Plant) employees.
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