INS Brahmaputra catches fire, lying on its side after major damage; sailor missing

A junior sailor is missing and rescue teams are looking for him. All other personnel have been accounted for, the navy said in a statement.

The fire broke out on board the multirole frigate INS Brahmaputra on Sunday evening as it was undergoing refit at the Mumbai naval dockyard, the navy said, adding the ship is lying on its side.

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

The navy said that subsequently, in the afternoon, the ship started listing to one 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," the navy said.

"All personnel have been accounted for except one junior sailor, for whom the search is in progress. An inquiry has been ordered by the Indian Navy to investigate the accident," the navy said.

The INS Brahmaputra is the first of the indigenously built 'Brahmaputra' class-guided missile frigates. It was commissioned into the Indian Navy in April 2000.

The ship is manned by a crew of 40 officers and 330 sailors.