Physically challenged children of Helen Keller school visit INS Vikrant in Mumbai on Thursday.

The ship-museum was opened to public viewing in connection with the Navy Week.

After the country's first carrier aircraft was decommissioned from service in 1997 after serving the Navy for nearly 40 years, there was a debate on what should be done with her.

Many wanted it to be turned into a museum, but due to lack of funds it almost ended up in the scrap yard.

INS Vikrant was commissioned in the Indian Navy on February 16, 1961 and played a stellar role during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

Photograph: Arun Patil