A minor accident occurred in the Visakhapatnam steel plant's melting shop (two) on Monday, according to sources.

The accident occurred below the converter due to ‘ladle throw' at the time of constructing an iron brick wall to put hot metal.

The iron brick wall is called ladle and the accident occurred due to formation of a hole in it apparently due to supply of inferior quality bricks.

Delegation

None was injured in the accident. A delegation of Visakha Steel Workers' Union (recognised union) comprising Mr D. Adinarayana, Mr V. Dhanaraju and Mr N. Rama Rao met the senior officials of Refractory Engineering Department and demanded that accountability be fixed for supply of inferior quality bricks. The hole was caused as the bricks had just seven hits instead of 80 to 150.

Loss

The loss due to ladle throw and damage caused to ladle transfer car leading to fall of metal could be in the range of Rs 4- 5 crore, the union leaders said.

The union leaders said the management should take steps to prevent recurrence.

This was the third accident during the current year, they added.