CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: The fire that broke out on the frontline guided missile frigate INS Brahmaputra has severely damaged the vessel, leaving it heavily tilted to one side.
“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. All personnel have been accounted for except one junior sailor, for whom the search is in progress,” a statement by the Indian Navy said.
Though the fire was brought under control by the ship’s crew with the assistance of firefighters from the dockyard and other ships in the harbour by Tuesday morning, there is still no news about the junior sailor for whom the search is in progress.
The fire broke out onboard the vessel on Sunday evening as the vessel was undergoing refit at the Naval dockyard.
Meanwhile, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi will visit Mumbai today to review the situation after warship INS Brahmaputra got severely damaged in a fire incident. Admiral Tripathi had also apprised Defence Minister Rajnath Singh of the fire breakout and the damages caused by the incident
The Navy has also initiated a probe into the incident besides taking follow-on actions, including sanitisation checks for assessment of residual risk of fire.
INS Brahmaputra has a length of 125 metres, a beam of 14.4 metres and is capable of sailing at a speed of 30 knots. The ship, when it sails, is manned by a crew of 40 officers and 360 sailors.
Commissioned by the Indian Navy in 2000, the frigate is fitted with a medium range, close range and anti-aircraft guns, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles and torpedo launchers. The ship has a wide array of sensors covering all facets of maritime warfare and is capable of operating Seaking and Chetak helicopters.
