MISHAP \\ A major explosion and fire broke out at the state-owned Visakhapatnam Steel Plant killing around 15 people. According to plant sources, the explosion occurred at the oxygen control unit near the steel melting shop at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited’s plant. While the cause of the explosion was not made clear, it was indicated that the blast could have been due to a technical ‘glitch’ at the unit and due to abnormal build-up of pressure within the unit. Nine people were declared dead on the spot and approximately 15 more people were injured in the accident. Six people were declared dead on the site, while three died on their way to the steel plant’s general hospital. Andhra CM N. Kiran Kumar Reddy expressed his “shock and anguish” over the matter and ordered an inquiry under the Factory Act. The joint chief inspector of factories will conduct the inquiry while the director of factories were also asked to look into the matter, according to Information and Public Relations Commissioner, R.V. Chandravadan.