Page 9 - 31MAY2019E

13 rescued The vessel was loaded with 6,000

from burning gallons of diesel, 120 exported
vehicles and 300 vehicle tyres,
reports tehelka bureau
ship in UAE

hirteen Indians onboard a guisher and fire-fighting equipment to While further investigation into how
burning cargo ship were res- douse the blaze till the fire brigade arrives the fire occurred is under process, social
cued on May 8 by a team of at the site so as to reduce loss of life and media users are highlighting Chauhan’s
quick-acting firefighters at property,” Col Sami Al Naqbi underlined. bravery, with hundreds sharing his picture
T Khalid Port in Sharjah, United In a separate incident last month, an and calling him a national hero.
Arab Emirates. The vessel was loaded with Indian Navy official died while fighting Journalist and Twitter user @shreyad-
6,000 gallons of diesel, 120 exported vehi- a fire that erupted on the Indian Navy’s houndial appreciated the selfless act: “He
cles, and 300 vehicle tyres — all of which solitary aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. is 30. Just Married. Yet when a fire broke
were gutted in the massive blaze. Indian Lieutenant Commander DS Chau- out onboard #INSVikramaditya he put
No casualties have been reported as the han tried his best to save those onboard. duty before self, entered a smoke filled
firefighters reached the site immediately According to reports, a fire erupted in engine room and led the firefighting effort.
and evacuated the crew members in time, the engine room of INS Vikramaditya. He saved his ship and 1500 mates on board
Col Sami Al Naqbi, director-general of The ship was entering the Karwar base in but lost his life in the process. #Rip Lt Cdr
Sharjah Civil Defence was quoted as say- Karnataka after a deployment in the Ara- DS Chauhan.”
ing by the Khaleej Times. bian Sea on April 26. An officer said that Whereas, user @koolvinit_india
The civil defence received information Chauhan fell unconscious due to inhaling expressed his grief for the officer’s rela-
about a fire breaking out in cargo at Shar- fumes and smoke as he participated in the tives: “Had married just last month. Was
jah Creek at 6.44 am. The team reached the firefighting efforts. He was immediately 30 years old. Heartbroken for the family of
location within five minutes, shifted the taken to the naval hospital INHS Patan- Lt Cdr DS Chauhan who died fighting a fire
crew to safety and contained the raging jali at Karwar, however did not survive, on board #INSVikramaditya on Friday.”
blaze in an hour, the officer said. The res- according to the report. The official Twitter account of the
cued crew was given first aid and food. Indian Navy, @indiannavy, confirmed the
The site has been handed over to the news of Chauhan passing away and paid
forensic expert of Sharjah Police to probe No casualties have tribute to the officer in series of posts: “It
the reason behind the fire. It was the third is with profound grief and regret that we
fire accident at the same site. Most fires been reported as the report the sad and untimely demise of
have been caused due to the crew unload- firefighters reached Lieutenant Commander DS Chauhan, a
ing the goods and storing the inflammable young colleague and a brave brother-in-
materials near the cooking area or under the site immediately arms, onboard INS Vikramaditya. He laid
the sun. and evacuated the down his life fighting a fire in a machinery
The civil defence, in coordination with compartment.”
the Sharjah Police, will study the causes of crew members in time. The entity also confirmed that due to
the fire in these boats and carry out aware- The forensic expert Chauhan’s efforts, the ship’s fighting ability
ness among the crew members of all ships was preserved and no major damage was
anchored at Khalid Port to prevent a of Sharjah Police are caused to the aircraft carrier.
repeat of such incidents, Al Naqbi said.
“We will train them to use the extin- probing the cause of fire letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 31 may 2019 9 www.Tehelka.com