A 30-year-old Indian Navy officer died Friday (April 26) while "bravely" fighting a fire onboard aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya when the ship was entering the Karwar harbour in Karnataka. The officer, identified as Lt Cdr DS Chauhan, hails from Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh. The naval officer was in his twenties and had gotten married just last month. He is survived by his mother and wife.
"Lieutenant Commander DS Chauhan bravely led the firefighting efforts in the affected compartment," 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.
"We salute his courage and sense of duty and will make every effort to ensure that his supreme sacrifice does not go in vain. We shall be with his family forever and at all times," Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said in his condolence message.
The Navy has ordered a Board of Inquiry to probe the fire incident onboard INS Vikramaditya.
Navy Spokesperson Capt D K Sharma said Chauhan laid down his life fighting the fire in a machinery compartment. "His daring effort prevented the fire from spreading and causing major damage to the combat capability of the carrier."
Navy officials said Chauhan was known as a very brave officer and his sense of duty was exemplary.
"Lt Cdr DS Chauhan bravely led the fire fighting efforts in the affected compartment and while the fire was brought under control, the officer suffered a loss of consciousness owing to smoke and fumes," the Navy said.
Lt Cdr Chauhan was immediately evacuated to a naval hospital at Karwar, but he could not be revived, it said.
In a nutshell
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-m-long and its height is around 60 m, which is like a 20 storeyed 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.
(Inputs from agencies)
