The explosion occurred at the oxygen control unit near the Steel Melting Shop at the plant of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) last night.
Speaking to PTI after visiting the blast site, District Collector Lav Agarwal said the death toll has risen to 10 while condition of some of the injured, who received 90 per cent burns in the blaze caused after the explosion is, critical.
Among the critically injured are Visakhapatnam Steel Plant General Manager (Projects) D Khalsi, Assistant General Managers LAS Rao, Ranjan Bhattacharya and MBRS Sarma, Senior Manager K Srinivasa Rao and three foremen who are battling for life at a corporate hospital here.
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.
When asked about the cause behind the incident, the collector said it will be known only after an inquiry is completed.
"It is natural to have an inquiry into major incidents like these," he said without elaborating.
The steel plant authorities, however, are yet to identify the bodies and confirm the death toll.
According to steel plant sources, a heavy pressure build-up at Oxygen Control Unit might have caused the blast as the gas from the newly-commissioned converter backfired setting off a reaction.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is likely to visit the site and also hospitals later in the day.
