Toxic gas leaks on Indian Navy's aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya; two dead, two injured

Shipwright Artificer Rakesh Kumar and Mohandas Kolambkar, an employee of M/s Royal Marine succumbed due to gas inhalation.

Karwar (Karnataka): Two people - an Indian Navy sailor and a civilian - were killed and two others seriously injured when a toxic gas leak incident took place onboard INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier on Friday evening.

“Shipwright Artificer Rakesh Kumar and Mohandas Kolambkar, an employee of M/s Royal Marine, succumbed to gas inhalation,” the Indian Navy said in a statement.

According to the Navy, the incident took place at about 5 pm while the Russian-built aircraft carrier was undergoing maintenance repairs at Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka. 

Maintenance work was being undertaken in the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) Compartment. Due to inhaling toxic gas, four persons, including two sailors and two civilian workers, were evacuated to the Naval Hospital at Karwar. 

The Indian Navy has, meanwhile, ordered an inquiry into the incident.

"The next of kin of the deceased have been informed. The condition of the other two personnel is stable," a Navy officer said.

The ship has been under refit at Karwar since June 1.

INS Vikramaditya is India's largest aircraft carrier.