Fire Severely Damages INS Brahmaputra, Indian Navy Searches for Missing Sailor

INS Brahmaputra, a guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, suffered significant damage and tilted heavily to one side after a fire broke out while it was undergoing refit at the Mumbai naval dockyard. The incident occurred on the evening of July 21, and one junior sailor went missing. Rescue operations are ongoing to locate the sailor.

Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi informed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about the fire and the resulting damage to the ship. Singh's office stated that the defence minister prayed for the safety of the missing sailor and instructed the Navy Chief to take necessary actions.

Fire Incident and Immediate Response

The fire on INS Brahmaputra was brought under control by the ship's crew with help from dockyard firefighters and other ships in the harbour. Follow-up actions, including sanitisation checks to assess residual fire risks, were conducted. Despite efforts, the ship experienced severe listing to its port side and could not be stabilised.

The ship continued to tilt further alongside its berth and is currently resting on one side. All personnel have been accounted for except one junior sailor, for whom search operations are still in progress. An inquiry has been ordered by the Indian Navy to investigate the incident.

Details of INS Brahmaputra

INS Brahmaputra is the first of the indigenously built Brahmaputra-class guided missile frigates and was commissioned into service in April 2000. The nearly 3,600-tonne ship is equipped with various weapons, including surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, medium-range guns, anti-submarine rockets, radars, sonars, and advanced electronic warfare systems.

The ship measures 125 metres in length with a beam of 14.4 metres and can sail at a speed of 30 knots. When operational, it is manned by a crew comprising 40 officers and 360 sailors.

Official Statements

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the fire incident. Singh's office posted on X: "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." The post also mentioned that Singh prayed for the safety of the missing sailor and directed appropriate actions.

The Navy's statement confirmed that all personnel have been accounted for except one junior sailor. The search for this sailor is ongoing as part of rescue operations.

INS Brahmaputra's extensive weaponry includes surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, medium-range guns, anti-submarine rockets, radars, sonars, and state-of-the-art electronic warfare systems. These features make it a crucial asset for India's naval capabilities.

The fire incident has raised concerns about safety protocols during refit operations at naval dockyards. The inquiry ordered by the Indian Navy aims to uncover the cause of the fire and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The ship's crew managed to control the fire with assistance from dockyard firefighters and other ships in harbour by morning. However, despite all efforts to stabilise it, INS Brahmaputra listed severely to one side in the afternoon.

The defence minister's directive underscores the importance of ensuring safety measures are in place during maintenance activities at naval facilities. The ongoing search for the missing sailor remains a priority for rescue teams.

The incident highlights both the risks involved in naval operations and the resilience of naval personnel in managing emergencies. As investigations proceed, lessons learned will likely inform future safety protocols.