Naval officer dies in fire on board aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23

An Indian naval officer died fighting fire that broke out on board the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya on Friday morning, the Indian Navy said.

The fire was reported on board the warship as it was entering harbour at its home base at Karwar, located south of Goa.

Indian Naval officer Lt Cdr DS Chauhan led the firefighting efforts in the affected compartment, a spokesperson of the navy said. While the fire was brought under control, the officer suffered loss of consciousness owing to the smoke and fumes during the firefighting efforts. He died later at Karwar naval hospital INHS Patanjali.    

“The fire was brought under control by the ship's crew in a swift action, preventing any serious damage to the carrier's combat capability,” the official said. 

The Navy has ordered a Board of Inquiry into the incident.  

The INS Vikramaditya was commissioned into the Indian Navy in November 2013 at Severodvinsk in Russia.

The Russian-origin ship is often called a floating airfield. The 44,500 tonne is about 284-metre long and its height is around 60 m, which is like a 20-storey building from keel to the highest point.

The ship has a total of 22 decks and it has the ability to carry over 30 aircraft comprising an assortment of MiG 29K/Sea Harrier, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King, ALH-Dhruv and Chetak helicopters.