Cochin shipyard
The ship that is docked in Cochin shipyard belongs to ONGC. (Representational Image)IANS

Five people were killed and 11 others injured in a blast that took place during the maintenance works of a ship at Cochin Shipyard on Tuesday. According to reports, the explosion was reported on a drilling vessel of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) named Sagar Bhushan.

The blast took place at around 10:45 am.

  • Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also expressed his grief over the shipyard blast
  • Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development  Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India has expressed his condolences  for the deceased and has also ordered a probe.
  • The fire has been brought under control.
    "The mishap happened at the dry dock of the shipyard. Five deaths have been confirmed. The situation is under control and an investigation is on to find out how the blast took place," Hindustan Times quoted Cochin Police Commissioner MV Dinesh as saying.
  • Most of the injured have suffered more than 50 percent burns.
  • The report also said that the cause of the deaths is suffocation and burns.
  • The initial probe reveals that the blast occurred in a water tank of the ship.
  • The ship was docked at the Cochin shipyard for repairs.
Cochin shipyard
Explosion on ship docked in Cochin shipyard.Wikimedia Commons
  • The injured were taken to the nearby Medical Trust Hospital.
  • The ship, which was built in 1987, has a gross tonnage of 11,103 and deadweight tonnage of 9,113.