INS Brahmaputra damaged as fire breaks out aboard ship, junior sailor missing

A fire broke out onboard the INS Brahmaputra, an Indian Navy warship, while it was undergoing maintenance at the naval dockyard in Mumbai, officials said on Monday.

The navy said that a junior sailor is missing and rescue teams are looking for him. According to officials, the multi-role frigate was undergoing refit at the Naval Dockyard when it caught fire.

The fire was brought under control by the ship’s crew with the assistance of firefighters from the Naval Dockyard and other ships in the harbour. Follow-up actions, including sanitisation checks to assess any residual fire risk, were promptly carried out.

“The fire was brought under control by the ship’s crew with the assistance of firefighters from the 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.

However, in the afternoon, the ship began to list severely to one side (port side). Despite all efforts, the ship could not be brought back to an upright position, sources told India Today TV.

“The INS Brahmaputra continued to list further alongside its berth and is currently resting on one side,” sources added. No casualties have been reported in the incident.

The Indian Navy has ordered an inquiry to investigate the accident.