Karwar: A massive fire broke out onboard INS Vikramaditya near Karwar in Karnataka on Friday. Lieutenant Commander who was onboard INS Vikramaditya died in the mishap.
Lt Cdr DS Chauhan belongs to Ratlam district in Madhya Pradesh. He 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. He was immediately evacuated to the Naval Hospital at Karwar, INHS Patanjali for medical attention. However, the officer could not be revived.
According to reports, Navy has ordered a Board of Inquiry to probe the incident. Fire was brought under control by its crew preventing any serious damage to the warship’s combat capability.
Major accidents related to the Indian Navy:
- INS Sindhughosh (26.04.2019) An Indian Navy officer died while trying to combat fire onboard INS Vikramaditya when the ship was entering the harbour in Karwar in Karnataka.
- INS Sindhughosh ( 14.07.2018): A fire broke out in INS Pralay, a Veer class corvette.No casualties were reported.
- INS Shivalik (11.01.2018): A fire broke onboard Indian Navy's stealth frigate INS Shivalik.
- INS Betwa (06.12 2016:) Two sailors died and 14 others were injured when INS Betwa tipped over and crashed on its side while it was undocking in Mumbai . The main mast of the ship broke when it tipped over due to a failure in the dock block mechanism. The ship was being undocked after undergoing a midlife refit.
- INS Nashak (18.11 2016): The front portion of INS Nashak was damaged when its GT engines failed in Mumbai harbor and it collided with a jetty.
- INS Vikramaditya (10.06.2016): At least two people, including a civilian, were today killed and another two injured following leakage of toxic fumes from the sewage plant on board Russian-made aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, which was undergoing repairs at Karwar in Karnataka.
- INS Nireekshak (16.04.2016): A sailor lost his leg while two others were injured in an oxygen cylinder explosion on board INS Nireekshak.
- INS VIRAAT ( 06.03.2016): 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.
- INS Kolkata (Yard 701) (07.03.2014) - An officer was killed and a worker injured after inhaling carbon dioxide gas which leaked from a container in the advanced warship at Mumbai's Mazagon Dock Limited.
- INS Sindhuratna (06.02. 2014): Two sailors died and seven members of the 94-strong crew were evacuated after inhaling smoke aboard the diesel-powered submarine following a fire. A board of inquiry in its preliminary report, said that fire in some cables led to the smoke in the third compartment.
- INS Airavat (03.02 2014): Amphibious ship INS Airavat, the latest of the Shardul class of tank-landing ships, ran aground off the coast of Visakhapatnam. The propellers of the warship were permanently damaged and had to be replaced for the vessel to become operational again.
- INS Betwa (22.01 2014): The indigenously built frigate ran aground and collided with an unidentified object while approaching the Mumbai harbour. The frigate's sonar system was found to be cracked, leading to faulty readings and ingress of saltwater into sensitive equipment.
- INS Vipul (19.01.2014): Deployed with the elite 22nd Killer Missile Vessel Squadron, a hole was detected in a compartment, forced it back into the harbour while it was on an operational mission. It had to be sent for repairs.
- INS Sindhughosh (17.01 2014): The leading ship of her class of diesel-electric submarines, the Sindhughosh ran aground at the naval harbour in Mumbai. The submarine was re-floated and did not suffer much damage. At the time of the incident, it was fully armed, carrying its entire compliment of 70 personnel, all of whom were safe.
- INS Talwar (23.12 2013): A fishing trawler sank after colliding with the frontline frigate near Ratnagiri district, injuring four of the 27 people aboard the trawler. The trawler was operating without lights. There were no casualties onboard the ship.
- INS Tarkash (19.12 2013): A stealth frigate which conducted several overseas missions, INS Tarkash suffered damage to its hull when it hit the jetty while docking at the Mumbai. There were no casualties.
- INS Konkan (04.12 2013) - A minesweeper of the Eastern Naval Command, the vessel caught fire at the naval dockyard at Visakhapatnam while undergoing repairs. The fire engulfed much of the ship's interiors before it doused. No deaths were reported.
- INS Sindhughosh ( 14.08. 2013) - Eighteen crew members on board - three officers and 15 sailors - were killed when blasts ripped through the torpedo compartment of the INS Sindhurakshak while the submarine was berthed in Mumbai harbour.
