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One Dead in Fire inside Under-Construction Warship at Mazagon Docks

Staff Correspondent

At least one person died after a Level 3 fire broke out on the second and the third deck of an under-construction warship, INS Visakhapatnam at Mumbai’s Mazagon Docks Limited around 5:44 pm on Friday. The deceased has been identified as 23-year-old Brajesh Kumar, a contract worker who succumbed possibly due to asphyxia and burn injuries. Eight fire-fighting engines, along with quick-response vehicle, were pressed into service to quell the blaze.

“Under-construction warship ‘Visakhapatnam’ caught fire at 5:44 pm. The blaze erupted on the second deck of the ship,” said PS Rahangdale, the chief of city fire brigade. “Fire is confined to second and third deck of the warship. Fire-fighting operation is underway along with Dockyard fire-fighters. Smoke has spread in the warship. We suspect that one person is trapped inside,” Rahangdale said.

The fire has been confined on the second and the third floor of the ship, according to news agency ANI. Another person was suspected to be trapped inside the warship. Vishakhapatnam is first of P15-B stealth destroyers. Officials also said that the fire was brought under control soon and the extent of the damage was not great. Vishakhapatnam is the lead ship of the Indian Navy’s Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyers. The ship was launched on 20 April 2015 and is expected to be commissioned in the Indian Navy in 2021. The destroyer class comprises four ships – Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Porbandar all of which are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited.