Two workers were killed and four others sustained critical burn injuries after a fire erupted on a vessel under construction at Vijay Marine Shipyard in Loutolim on the evening of October 17, 2025.

The fire broke out between 5:30 and 6:10 pm while seven labourers were carrying out welding work inside a confined section of the vessel. All of them were immediately taken to the South Goa District Hospital, where two workers were declared dead on arrival.

Four of the injured were later transferred to Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, for specialised treatment, while one worker with minor injuries remained at the district hospital.

Authorities stated that all victims were daily wage labourers from Uttar Pradesh, identified as Abhishek Kumar (25), Santosh Kumar (27), Manish Chauhan (27), and Mohammed Babloo (27).

Preliminary findings by fire brigade officials found that the fire likely started near an electrical panel on the vessel’s anchor deck. The vessel had recently been painted, and the enclosed space may have accumulated volatile gases, which were ignited during welding operations, according to fire department sources.

DySP Sidhant Shirodkar of South Goa police said that lapses in safety measures and faulty protective equipment may have contributed to the incident.

Personnel from the bomb disposal squad, the Department of Factories and Boilers, and local police remained at the shipyard through the night, conducting investigations.

The Inspector of Factories and Boilers has ordered the immediate suspension of operations at the site and sealed the premises for further inquiry. Maina-Curtorim police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

District Collector Egna Cletus, chairperson of the South Goa Disaster Management Authority, clarified that the incident was a fire and not an explosion. Officials at the scene reported detecting intense heat and a strong chemical odour at the site following the accident.

The four critically injured workers continue to receive treatment at Goa Medical College, with their condition being closely monitored by hospital authorities.

References: indianexpress, TOI