Death toll in Bay of Bengal vessel fire climbs to three

The death toll from a fire incident aboard a platform supply vessel (PSV) in the waters off India earlier this month has now risen to three after two rescued crewmembers succumbed to their injuries.

Local authorities had initially confirmed only one fatality from the blaze that erupted on the PSV Coastal Jaguar in the Bay of Bengal on August 12. However, additional fatalities were reported after two survivors who had suffered greater than 65 per cent burns died as they were undergoing treatment.

The two were confined in the intensive care unit at a private hospital in Visakhapatnam at the time of their demise.

A third individual who had suffered 45 per cent burns has since been transferred to Mumbai for further treatment.

The Indian Directorate General of Shipping is expected to issue a casualty investigation report in connection with the fire in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Indian authorities continue to comb the waters off the coast of Visakhapatnam for any trace of one of Coastal Jaguar‘s crewmembers who went missing during the incident.