Four Workers Die in Fire at AM/NS Hazira Plant

Surat : A tragic fire at ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AM/NS) India’s Hazira plant claimed the lives of four contractual workers on Tuesday evening. 

Surat Commissioner of Police Anupam Singh Gehlot reported that the fire broke out after burning coal spilled unexpectedly, igniting a blaze in one section of the plant. The blaze claimed the lives of four contractual workers who were on a lift at the time.

According to reports, hot raw material leaked from a ruptured raw material channel, sparking the fire. The four workers, identified as Jignesh Dilipkumar, Dhaval Nareshbhai, Sandeep Patel, and Ganesh Buddh, were in a nearby elevator at the time and suffered severe burns, resulting in their deaths on the spot.

Another worker sustained minor injuries and was immediately transported to the plant’s hospital, where he is reportedly recovering.

In a statement, a spokesperson for AM/NS India expressed regret over the accident, attributing it to equipment failure at the plant’s Corex unit.

The spokesperson said that the incident occurred at around 6 pm during the restart of the unit following a shutdown.

The company activated all emergency protocols and sealed off the affected area to ensure safety. In a statement, an AM/NS India spokesperson confirmed, “We are cooperating fully with the authorities and have initiated an internal investigation to determine the cause of the accident.”

According to sources, the management of AM/NS India has decided to extend support to the families of the workers who lost their lives in the recent fire at the Hazira plant. The company plans to provide financial compensation to the families of the deceased and offer employment opportunities to ensure the continued livelihood of the bereaved families. This step is seen as a measure to alleviate the hardships faced by the victims’ families and support them during this difficult time.

The Hazira Police have registered a case of accidental death, and Inspector V.L. Parmar stated that an investigation is underway to uncover the sequence of events leading to the mishap.