Indian Navy sailor missing after INS Brahmaputra catches fire, topples at Mumbai dockyard
- In Reports
- 11:02 AM, Jul 23, 2024
- Myind Staff
A fire broke out on the INS Brahmaputra, a naval frigate, during its refit at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, causing it to list to its port side. The vessel is currently lying on its side, and a junior sailor is reported missing.
The Indian Navy confirmed on Monday that all personnel have been accounted for except one junior sailor, who is still being searched for.
The ship's crew brought the fire under control with assistance from firefighters from the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai (ND Mumbai), and other ships in the harbour by the morning of 22 July 2024.
"In the fire incident onboard the frigate INS Brahmaputra, the warship experienced severe listing to one side (port side). Despite all efforts, the ship could not be brought to the upright position. The ship continued to list further alongside her berth and is presently resting on one side. 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," Indian Navy said in a statement.
"A fire had broken out onboard the Indian Naval Ship Brahmaputra, a multi-role Frigate, on the evening of 21 Jul 24 while she was undergoing refit. The fire was brought under control by the ship’s crew with the assistance of firefighters from Naval Dockyard, Mumbai {ND (Mbi)} and other ships in the harbour, by the morning of 22 Jul 24. Further, follow-on actions including sanitisation checks for assessment of residual risk of fire were carried out," Indian Navy statement added.
The INS Brahmaputra is the first indigenously built 'Brahmaputra' class guided missile frigate, commissioned into the Indian Navy in April 2000.
The warship is manned by a crew of 40 officers and 330 sailors.
Equipped with medium-range, close-range, and anti-aircraft guns, as well as surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles and torpedo launchers, the ship boasts a comprehensive array of sensors covering all aspects of maritime warfare. It is also capable of operating 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 can achieve speeds in excess of 27 knots.
Image source: Agencies
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