One sailor was killed and three others injured after a fire broke out onboard India’s soon to be decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Viraat in Goa. A navy spokesperson said in New Delhi that the fire incident happened yesterday afternoon when the ship had earthed the Goa harbour after the sortie. He said, the ship reported incident of steam leak and a minor fire on one of the ship’s boiler rooms.
The spokesperson said, Chief engineering mechanic Ashu Singh and three others sustained injuries while combating the fire. He said, Ashu Singh suffered a cardiac arrest and died in the Naval Hospital in Goa. The other three are under treatment and out of danger.
After completing 60 successful years, INS Viraat was on the last operational deployment in Goa before it will be decommissioned. AIR correspondent reports that the aircraft carrier is now sailing back to Mumbai. The ship, berthed in Goa harbour,was in the process of shutting down machinery including boilers when fire broke out. The fire was brought under control by the crew, However the fire was emitting thick smoke and fire fighting crew inhaled it.