In a tragic event, an Indian Navy warship that was undergoing maintenance at the naval dockyard in Mumbai caught fire on Monday. Reportedly, a junior sailor is missing, and rescue teams are looking for him. The Navy confirmed that all remaining personnel have been located and are safe.
According to the details, a fire started on the INS Brahmaputra, a multirole frigate, on Sunday evening while it was being repaired at the Mumbai naval dockyard. The ship is now tilted to one side.
“… The fire was brought under control by the ship’s crew with assistance of firefighters from Naval Dockyard, Mumbai and other ships in harbour, by [Monday] morning. Further, follow-on actions including sanitisation checks for assessment of residual risk of fire were carried out,” the navy said in a statement.
The navy said that subsequently, in the afternoon, the ship started listing to one side. “Despite all efforts, the ship could not be brought to an upright position. The ship continued to list further alongside her berth and is presently resting on one side,” the navy said.
“All personnel have been accounted for except one junior sailor, for whom the search is in progress. An inquiry has been ordered by the Indian Navy to investigate the accident,” the navy added.
The INS Brahmaputra
The INS Brahmaputra, commissioned in April 2000, is the inaugural vessel of the ‘Brahmaputra’ class guided missile frigates constructed domestically for the Indian Navy. It operates with a crew comprising 40 officers and 330 sailors, playing a crucial role in India’s naval operations.
The INS Brahmaputra is equipped with medium-range and close-range guns, anti-aircraft guns, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, and torpedo launchers. It also features various sensors for maritime operations and can deploy Seaking and Chetak helicopters.
The INS Brahmaputra has a displacement of 5,300 tonnes, a length of 125 metres, a beam of 14.4 metres, and is capable of speed in excess of 27 knots.
