Tragic Fire Claims Lives at Goa Shipyard
In a devastating incident at Vijay Marine Shipyard in Loutolim, Goa, two workers lost their lives, and five others suffered severe burn injuries due to a fire that erupted during welding operations on Friday evening. The fire broke out around 5:30 PM while seven laborers were working in a confined area of the vessel under construction. Emergency services rushed the injured to local hospitals, where two were pronounced dead upon arrival.
Investigation Underway Following Fatal Incident
According to the Goa Police, the fire occurred while the workers were engaged in welding tasks. All seven laborers were quickly transported to the South Goa District Hospital, where medical staff confirmed the tragic deaths of Abhishek Kumar (25) and Manish Chauhan (27). Four critically injured workers were subsequently transferred to Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim, while one individual with minor injuries remains under treatment at the district hospital.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer DySP Sidhant Shirodkar indicated that initial investigations point to negligence on the part of the safety supervisor. Reports suggest that proper safety measures were not enforced during the welding operations, leading to the catastrophic event. “The lapse appears to have occurred due to failure to ensure functioning safety gadgets and proper precautions,” Shirodkar stated.
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Medical Superintendent Dr. Rajendra Borkar confirmed that all victims sustained extensive burn injuries. The deceased and injured workers were identified as Santosh Kumar (27) and Mohammed Babloo (27), both hailing from Uttar Pradesh. In response to the incident, the Inspector of Factories and Boilers has ordered an immediate suspension of all operations at the shipyard and sealed the site for further investigation. A bomb disposal squad was also deployed as a precautionary measure.
District Collector Egna Cletus, who chairs the South Goa Disaster Management Authority, clarified that the incident was a fire and not an explosion. She explained that the vessel had been freshly painted the day before, and a chemical reaction likely occurred when welding began, igniting the blaze. Authorities have initiated a comprehensive investigation, and the Maina-Curtorim police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
