"Visakhapatnam" is the first of 4 stealth guided missile destroyers to be built under Project 15-B Class

One person died after a major fire broke out today on the Visakhapatnam, an under-construction Navy ship at Mumbai's Mazagon Docks. The fire started in an air conditioning bay, according to an official. It took time for firefighters to reach the spot, the official said.

The victim, identified as 23-year-old Brajesh Kumar, was a contract worker. According to a statement issued by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Mr Kumar died due to asphyxiation and burn injuries.

The damage caused by the fire was not widespread and was brought under control, the statement said.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade assisted in the firefighting operations. Eight fire engines and seven water tankers were rushed to the dockyard after the fire broke out, according to an official.

"Under-construction warship ''Visakhapatnam'' caught fire at 5.44 pm. The blaze erupted on the second deck of the ship," said PS Rahangdale, chief of the fire brigade, reported news agency PTI.

Vishakhapatnam is the lead ship of the Indian Navy's Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyers. The ship was launched on 20 April 2015 and is expected to be commissioned in the Indian Navy in 2021.

The destroyer class comprises four ships - Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Porbandar all of which are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited.

Once commissioned, the Vishakhapatnam class ships will be the largest destroyers in the Indian Navy's arsenal.