Toll in Loutolim shipyard fire rises to 5 as two more succumb

Margao: Two more persons succumbed to the injuries they sustained in the accident at the shipyard at Rassaim, Loutolim, last week.Abhishek Kumar, 25, and Manish Chouvan, 20, both from Uttar Pradesh, who were undergoing treatment at the GMC, Bambolim, lost their lives on Friday.

With the latest deaths, the toll in the accident has risen to five, while two others remain in critical condition in the GMC.The accident occurred on an under-construction 80M landing craft vessel at the shipyard of Vijai Marines Services on the night of Oct 17.A sudden flash fire erupted from the forecastle compartment during hot work activities, including electric arc welding and gas cutting, which went on to engulf 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 the GMC.Two other workers who suffered serious injuries are undergoing treatment at the GMC. Their condition, according to sources, continues to remain critical.