Union leaders cite staff shortage, safety issues behind VSP blast - The HinduUpdated - June 10, 2026 01:26 pm IST - VISAKHAPATNAM:Steelmaking in process at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant in Visakhapatnam. File. | Photo Credit: The HinduVISAKHAPATNAM:Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) Visakhapatnam Steel Plant’s recognised union on Tuesday held the management and the ruling coalition government responsible for the fatal blast at Steel Melting Shop-1 (SMS-1) on June 8, 2026, which killed eight workers.Visakhapatnam steel blast claims a ninth life: a father’s last video tells his sons how to live without himAddressing the media, the union vice-president, Varasala Srinivasa Rao, alleged that the tragedy was a direct consequence of severe manpower shortages, increased workload, and a total neglect of critical machinery maintenance over the past two years. He pointed out that the permanent workforce has dropped from 18,500 to just 8,500 in the last 25 months, while the contract workforce has been reduced by nearly half.The union leader further charged that the management compromised operational safety by purchasing substandard raw materials, which damaged heavy machinery and forced several departments to halt production.Published - June 09, 2026 08:55 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }