Incident of fire reported onboard aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya

Vikramaditya is based in Karwar as the draft is quite big and the naval dockyard in Mumbai is not big enough to accommodate her.

Vikramaditya was earlier in the Russian Navy and was bought as INS Viraat was to be decommissioned. (File photo)

India’s only aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya caught fire during a planned sortie for conduct of sea trials off Karwar in Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka on Wednesday. Vikramaditya is based in Karwar. A naval spokesperson said, “The fire was brought under control by the ship’s crew using onboard systems. No casualties have been reported. A board of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident.”

He said that the warship is still off the coast and is yet to be brought into the harbour.

Sources in the Indian Navy said the warship was still in deep sea and will be brought to harbour on Thursday. The exact quantum of damage is yet to be known.

Vikramaditya will be out of use for some months and will require repairs, said sources.

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