Bodies of deceased in Loutolim accident handed over to families

Margao: The bodies of three workers who died in an accident inside a shipyard at Rassaim, Loutolim, last week, have been handed over to their families following post-mortem examinations.

Three other victims, however, remain in critical condition at GMC, Bambolim, police said.The accident occurred on an under-construction 80M landing craft vessel. A sudden flash fire erupted from the forecastle compartment during hot work activities, including electric arc welding and gas cutting, engulfing seven workers in flames.Sher Ali MD Ali, 22, from West Bengal, and Vinod Diwan, 42, from Jharkhand, died at the scene.

Santosh Kumar, 30, also from Jharkhand, succumbed to his injuries during treatment at GMC. PI Arun Dessai of Maina Curtorim police station confirmed that the bodies have been handed over to their relatives.Four other workers—Mohammed Babul, Abhishek Singh, Manish Chauhan, and Surendra Kumar—suffered serious injuries and are undergoing treatment at the GMC. Their condition, according to sources, continues to remain critical.

Police arrested Raju Bora, the security officer of the firm Vijai Marines Services, on charges of negligence leading to death. The inspectorate of factories and boilers imposed immediate restrictions on the shipyard’s operations, prohibiting all activities on the affected vessel. Police have been deployed to ensure compliance.The shipyard has been ordered to conduct a comprehensive root-cause analysis through a recognised occupational safety and health auditor and submit reports within seven days.Several agencies, including the labour department and Goa State Pollution Control Board, are conducting parallel investigations. The labour department is examining compensation claims under the Workmen's Compensation Act.