INS Virat Caught Fire, One Died

By Aiswarya Lakshmi March 7, 2016

One sailor was killed and three others were injured after a fire broke out onboard India's soon to be decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Viraat in Goa.

While the incident was quickly brought under control, four sailors who were present at the scene and combating the fire sustained injury from the smoke.

Chief Engineering Mechanic Ashu Singh having suffered smoke inhalation was reportedly shifted to the naval hospital in Goa where he died.

Also, reports said that three others had sustained injuries in the fire after inhaling smoke.

Prima facie, some insulating material in the boiler room appears to have caught fire from heat due to steam leak. Investigations are on.

However, Navy Headquarters had then termed the event as minor, saying that there had been no injury to anyone in the fire incident which had taken place in the air conditioning system on the aircraft carrier.

Viraat, one of the two aircraft carrier that India is operating, is expected to sail back to Mumbai soon.

INS Viraat had first served the British Navy for over 30 years, before being bought by India. It was inducted into the Indian Navy in 1987 after undergoing extensive refit.