An explosion at Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited's steel melt shop in Visakhapatnam has killed nine workers and injured several others, forcing an immediate halt to steelmaking operations. The incident strikes one of India's most financially stressed public sector steel plants, where trade unions have long raised concerns about maintenance investment and safety standards. Investigations are underway to determine the cause, while the production shutdown adds further commercial pressure to a company already navigating significant financial difficulties.