Akela
AN incident of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) leakage was reported from Yard 12701-INS Kolkata Class Ship-on Friday causing death of a commander. The department have initiated an inquiry into the matter.
According to press note issued by Navy and Mumbai police officials as a part of delivery trials by M/s MDL, the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) fire fighting system was being evaluated and accordingly CO2 was to be released in one of the machinery compartments. The whilst was undergoing acceptance trials under Mazgoan Dock Limited, Mumbai.
During the trials one of the system valves on the CO2 bottles malfunctioned leading to leakage of CO2 in the compartment. Commander Kuntal Wadhwa (42), Engineering Officer (Design), inhaled the CO2 gas and was critically injured. The officer was rushed to St. George Hospital. However, efforts to revive him failed. Wadhwa is a resident of Archana Nofery, Colaba-5. A worker Aslam Gaffar Kazi (51) is suffering from suffocation. He is under treatment in Prince Ali hospital in Mazgaon. He is able to give his statement. He is a resident of Noorani Masjid building, Pathanwadi, Malad (east).
The Yellowgate police have registered an accidental death report (ADR No 9/2014) under sections 174 of CrPC. The body has been sent for postmortem in JJ hospital.
A Board of Inquiry has been ordered by the Indian Navy to investigate the causes leading to the accident. Representatives from MDL will also be associated with the inquiry. The Department of Defence Production, MoD has also asked for a detailed report from MDL.
INS Kolkata is the most modern destroyer of India, set for commissioning in a few weeks time. It is now at the Bombay Port Trust undergoing trial.