Two Navy personnel die in Kochi naval base accident

The Navy has not released further details of the incident or the names of the deceased. (Representational)

Two Navy sailors were killed on Thursday after one of the hangar doors of the Indian Naval Air Squadron 322 collapsed at INS Garuda in Kochi. A Board of Inquiry has been ordered into the cause of the accident.

Naveen, EAA3 and Ajeet Singh, EAAR3 — both from the Aviation electrical branch — were passing by when the sliding door dislodged from its supporting rails above and fell on them at around 9 am. The injured personnel were rushed to the naval hospital INHS Sanjivani where they succumbed to their injuries at 9:40 am, a statement by the Defence PRO said.

“Two Navy personnel died of casualties caused due to an aircraft hangar collapse,” a spokesperson told news agency PTI.

Story continues below this ad

Naveen hailed from Haryana’s Bhiwani district and had joined the Navy in 2008. He is survived by his wife Aarti and a two-year-old daughter.

Ajeet Singh, on the other hand, belonged to Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district and had joined the force in 2009. He is survived by his wife Parvati and a five-year-old son.