Fire on board ship at Cochin shipyard kills five
At least five people were killed and many others critically injured in a fire on board a drill vessel at the Cochin Shipyard Ltd. Officials said the toll is likely to rise. The ship called Sagar Bhushan, owned by ONGC, was docked at the yard for maintenance work. Fire tenders have been rushed to the spot. The cause of the blaze isn't known yet.
Most casualties were victims of asphyxiation
According to sources, the fire broke out after a blast near the water tank of the ship during repair work. The casualties were a result of asphyxiation, officials said. Smoke was also hampering rescue operations. More people are believed to be trapped inside the ship. The Cochin Shipyard in Kochi, which started operations in 1978, is India's largest facility for shipbuilding and maintenance.
