Navy warship listing after collision, major fire rages

Mumbai, Jan 31 (PTI) Firefighters, along with Navypersonnel, are battling a major blaze to salvage warship INSVindhyagiri, which is listing after colliding with a merchantvessel in the Mumbai harbour.

"Fire broke out soon after the ship collided withanother vessel last evening. The Mumbai fire brigade wasalerted early today," fire brigade sources said.

There is nobody on board the warship as everybody wasevacuated last evening.

In the morning, eight fire tankers were sent to dousethe fire on board the ship, at naval dockyard, the sourcessaid. The number has since gone up to 16, including sixJumbo'' tankers, they said.

An official said there was a dent in the warship dueto the impact of the collision through which water had gushedinto the vessel causing it to tilt to one side.

Defence spokesman Manohar Nambiar said the ship wasresting on the sea bed and it cannot sink as there was notenough water.

"The ship is listing on one side. This can berectified. Once the water is pumped out, it will straighten,"he said.

Asked about the threat of oil spill, he said, "As ofnow there is nothing like that, but it is always better totake precaution."

INS Vindhyagiri had collided with a Norwegiancontainer vessel M V Nordlake, in the Mumbai harbour yesterdayand was brought to the navy dockyard.