The recent explosion in the port city of Visakhapatnam reflects the human costs of an industrial tragedy that dominates the headlines for a few days and is forgotten till another tragedy strikes. A heart-rending video recorded on June 8 and now going viral on social media, depicting a father’s final message to his son.One of the victims, 53-year-old K. Paidiraju, knew that his time was running out, as he suffered over 90% burns in a massive explosion that occurred in the Plant. The skin on his chest had been burnt away, and every breath was an agonising struggle. Yet his voice carried the weight of a father’s final message.“Varma… Daddy,” he whispered, addressing his eldest son. “Take care of your brother. Take care of your mother. Continue your studies. Don’t fight with anyone. Stay united.”Within 48 hours, on June 10, Paidiraju succumbed to his injuries at MGM Seven Hills Hospital in Visakhapatnam, becoming the ninth fatality of the devastating industrial disaster at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL)-Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.The video soon went viral across social media platforms, emerging as the haunting symbol of a tragedy that reduced hardworking men to ashes within seconds.Among those who perished were technicians Gonitha Bhanu Kumar, G.V. Appa Rao and M. Krishna Nagu; general foreman K. Prabhakar Rao; and a promising young manager, Bheem Kumar, also known across the Plant as “Gold Kumar”.The intensity of the inferno was such that several bodies recovered from the wreckage of Steel Melting Shop-1 (SMS-1) were beyond recognition. Forensic teams at the King George Hospital (KGH) mortuary had to rely on DNA analysis to identify the victims and hand over their remains to grieving families.As investigators continue examining the twisted remains of Caster-2, the human cost of the disaster is visible across Visakhapatnam.In Gangavaram, not far from the steel plant, Paidiraju’s home is filled with mourners. His wife remains inconsolable, while his two sons repeatedly watch the video carrying their father’s final words.Heartbroken familiesLike Paidiraju’s family, relatives of the other victims are struggling to come to terms with their loss.Appa Rao’s wife, Rachamma, recalled that her husband, on the fateful day, left for the Plant from a hospital where their elder son was admitted due to a high fever. After arriving, Rachamma called Appa Rao, when he asked her to “take care of the children”, a visibly grief-stricken Rachamma recounted it to be her husband’s last words.Besides their grief, the victims’ kin are demanding accountability and long-term support.“We need immediate government intervention and livelihood support. Fair compensation alone is not enough. We need security for our future,” several family members said outside the KGH mortuary while awaiting the release of the bodies.