Hyderabad:
At least nine people died and 10 others were critically injured after a major fire broke out at government- owned Vizag steel plant in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.
According to the police, the fire broke out after an explosion in the oxygen control unit of the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) plant.
A technical problem at the unit was suspected to be the cause for the mishap. Sources said the explosion could have been caused due to abnormal build-up of pressure in the unit.
The injured have been admitted to the steel plant's General Hospital. There are fears that the number of casualties could rise.
Officials at the plant say the fire due to the blast has been doused. The chairman of the plant who is on leave and out of the country is slated to return today.