Daijiworld Media Network - Bokaro

Bokaro, Sep 28: A fire broke out on Sunday afternoon at the Bokaro Steel Plant in Jharkhand, severely injuring four contractual workers, officials confirmed. The blaze erupted in the Steel Melting Shop-2 (SMS-2) during operations.

The injured workers—Ranjit Mahata, Brajesh Mahata, Omprakash Mahali, and Praveen Kumar—were initially treated at the plant’s medical unit before being transferred to Bokaro General Hospital due to the severity of their burns.

Eyewitnesses reported that the accident happened when a crane, lifting a ladle filled with molten metal, suddenly had its rope snap. This caused the hot metal to spill, igniting intense flames and engulfing the workers nearby.

Hospital sources revealed the extent of the injuries: Ranjit Mahata suffered burns over 90% of his body, Brajesh Mahata and Omprakash Mahali each sustained around 60%, and Praveen Kumar was burned over 45%. All four are currently in the ICU under close medical supervision.

Families of the injured rushed to the hospital following the incident. This is not the first such tragedy at SMS-2; a similar accident in June left five contractual workers injured.

Contractual workers have criticized the plant’s management, accusing officials of neglecting safety protocols, which they claim has led to frequent accidents. Meanwhile, the steel plant management has not yet released an official statement but reportedly initiated an internal investigation.

Bokaro Steel Plant, part of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), is a major integrated steel producer known for manufacturing flat steel products like hot rolled and cold rolled coils and sheets. Established in the late 1960s as India’s first indigenous ("Swadeshi") steel plant, it continues to play a crucial role in the country’s steel industry.