A junior sailor is missing following a fire aboard the Indian Navy’s multi-role frigate INS Brahmaputra at Mumbai dockyard on Sunday evening. The ship is currently resting on its side.
According to an official release by the Indian Navy on Monday, “A fire had broken out on board Indian Naval Ship Brahmaputra, a multi-role frigate, on the evening of July 21 while she was undergoing refit at Naval Dockyard Mumbai.”
The Navy stated that the ship’s crew, aided by firefighters from Naval Dockyard Mumbai and neighboring ships, managed to bring the fire under control by Monday morning.
Additionally, follow-up actions, including sanitisation checks to assess the residual fire risk, were carried out.
The Navy stated that despite all efforts, the ship could not be brought to the upright position. It continued to list further alongside her berth and is currently resting on one side.
“The ship continued to list further alongside her berth and is presently resting on one side,” it added.
The Defence Minister’s office posted on social media platform ‘X’ stating that Rajnath Singh has been briefed about the incident by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi.
“Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi has apprised RM Shri @rajnathsingh of the fire breakout onboard Indian Naval Ship Brahmaputra and the damages caused by the incident. RM prays for the safety of missing sailor,” the post said.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi has apprised RM Shri @rajnathsingh of the fire breakout onboard Indian Naval Ship Brahmaputra and the damages caused by the incident.RM prays for the safety of missing sailor.
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) July 22, 2024
Meanwhile, an inquiry has been ordered by the Navy to investigate the accident.
“All the 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,” it added.