Steel Executives Association members observing “Smrithi Diwas” at Ukkunagaram Club in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
The Steel Executives’ Association (SEA) of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), in collaboration with the Lions Blood Bank, JCI Ukkunagaram Chapter, and the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, observed ‘Smruthi Divas’ at the SEA Bhavan in Ukkunagaram on Saturday (June 13, 2026).The event marked the 14th year of paying tribute to the 19 employees and contract workers who lost their lives in a tragic accident at the Steel Melting Shop-II (SMS-II) on June 13, 2012.The gathering also observed a moment of silence to honour the 10 employees and contract workers who lost their lives in an industrial accident at the plant on June 8, 2026. They expressed deepest sympathies to the bereaved families and paid floral tributes to the departed.RINL Chairman-cum-Managing Director M.N.V.S. Prabhakar, who led the tributes by lighting a candle, stated that safety in industrial operations is of paramount importance.“Safety must remain the foremost priority at every workplace,” Mr. Prabhakar said, urging employees and stakeholders to strengthen the culture of safety across the organisation to prevent future tragedies. As a symbolic gesture of sustainability and remembrance, he planted a sapling on the SEA Bhavan premises.The event was marked by a voluntary blood donation camp, where 75 units of blood were collected from members of the “steel family.” Mr. Prabhakar commended the SEA for its consistent efforts in organising the camp and presented a shield to the association on behalf of the Lions Blood Bank in recognition of its contribution to the cause.In a gesture of social responsibility, the SEA committee sponsored lunch for children at two orphanages in Visakhapatnam to honour the memory of those who lost their lives.The programme was attended by RINL Directors A.K. Bagchi (Projects & Personnel), G.V.N. Prasad (Commercial), Vinay Kumar (Finance), Subhasis Sengupta (Operations), and CGM (Works) Ghosh. Also present were Andhra Pradesh Special Force Circle Inspector Sanyasayya, representatives from the JCI Ukkunagaram Chapter and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, as well as several trade union leaders.The event was coordinated by Lion M. Jagannadha Rao, Satyaprakash, S. Ravikumar, and Mohan. SEA representatives, including K.V.D. Prasad, general secretary, were present to oversee the proceedings. Published - June 13, 2026 08:23 pm IST
