Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya catches fire, naval officer dies

An Indian Navy officer died on Friday while trying to put out a fire on INS Vikramaditya when the ship was entering the Karwar harbour in Karnataka.

INS Vikramaditya of the Indian Navy. Photo: PIB (File)

NEW DELHI: An Indian Navy officer died on Friday while trying to put out a fire on INS Vikramaditya, Indias only aircraft carrier, when the ship was entering the Karwar harbour in Karnataka. "One officer dead during fire fighting operation onboard aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya in Karwar, Karnataka," the Indian Navy said. "Lt Cdr DS Chauhan bravely led the firefighting efforts in the affected compartment. Whilst the fire was brought under control, the officer suffered loss of consciousness owing to the smoke and fumes during the firefighting efforts," an official note released by the Navy said. Chauhan collapsed while taking swift action preventing any serious damage affecting the ship's combat capability and was rushed to the Naval Hospital at Karwar, INHS Patanjali for medical attention. "He was immediately evacuated to the Naval Hospital at Karwar, INHS Patanjali for medical attention. However, the officer could not be revived," the statement said. 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, an official said. A Board of Inquiry will probe circumstances of the incident.

The INS Vikramaditya is the most powerful symbol of India's military reach and has the capability to undertake strike missions in any part of the world. The 44,500 tonne warship is a Kiev class aircraft carrier which was commissioned by Russian Navy in 1987 under the name Baku. It was later renamed as Admiral Gorshkov and last sailed in 1995 in Russia, before being offered to India. The carrier was purchased by India on 20 January 2004 after years of negotiations. INS Vikramaditya has an overall length of 284 metres and a beam of 60 metres, stretching as much as three football fields put together. Standing about 20 storeys tall from keel to the highest point, the vessel has 22 decks.