INS Brahmaputra caught fire while undergoing refit at the Mumbai Naval Dockyard, on July 21, 2014. (Viral photo via X)
Mumbai: The Indian Navy chief, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, visited the Mumbai Naval Dockyard to assess the damage to INS Brahmaputra, a multirole frigate undergoing refit, caused by a severe fire, which made it tilt on the port side and collapse, on Sunday evening. The incident resulted in significant damage to the warship.
Despite efforts in the last two days, the ship could not be brought to an upright position and is now listing heavily.
The fire was contained by the ship’s crew and local firefighters, but the vessel remains tilted. An inquiry has been ordered by the Navy to investigate the accident. According to reports, a rear admiral will head the investigation.
Earlier, in a statement, the Navy said: “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 an upright position. The ship continued to list further alongside her berth and is presently resting on one side.”
It added that all personnel except one junior sailor have been accounted for. An extensive search operation is ongoing to locate the missing sailor.
The Navy chief was briefed on the mitigating actions taken to limit the extent of the damage, plan to recover and undertake repairs to restore the ship’s functionality at the earliest. Interacting with the crew of INS Brahmaputra, the Navy chief exhorted the crew to work towards early operationalization of the ship in the true spirit of the Indian Navy.
Adm Tripathi then directed that all necessary actions must be taken by the Western Naval Command and the Naval Headquarters to make INS Brahmaputra seaworthy and combat ready again and work towards the goal are to be initiated immediately.
Later, Adm Tripathi briefed the defence minister, Rajnath Singh, about the damage caused by the accident, and Singh has directed appropriate action to address the situation. The incident highlights the challenges faced during peacetime operations and underscores the need for safety protocols and rigorous maintenance procedures.
The INS Brahmaputra, a multirole guided-missile frigate and a vital asset for the Navy, will require extensive repairs and assessment before it can return to active duty. The investigation will delve into the cause of the fire, the ship’s stability, and potential lessons to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As the Navy chief takes stock of the situation, the focus remains on restoring the warship’s functionality and ensuring the safety of its crew.
It may be recalled that in December 2016, another Brahmaputra-class multirole guided-missile frigate, INS Betwa, also toppled sideways while being pulled out of a dry dock in the same Mumbai Naval Dockyard after undergoing a refit. The incident caused several fatalities, and the warship was severely damaged. However, the frigate was salvaged with international experts’ help and started sailing within seven months of the incident.
Note: This story has been updated at 4.23pm IST, Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
