At least three naval personnel died in a blast onboard Indian Navy destroyer INS Ranvir on Tuesday. According to available inputs, several others were injured in the incident that happened at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
11 sailors with injuries are being treated at the local naval hospital, the Navy said. The explosion occurred in an internal compartment on the ship. Responding immediately, the ship’s crew brought the situation under control, preventing any major material damage, the Navy said.
INS Ranvir was on cross coast operational deployment from the Eastern Naval Command and was due to return to base port shortly. A board of inquiry has been ordered to investigate into the cause, Navy officials said.
“The ship’s crew responded immediately and quickly brought the situation under control,” the release said.
INS Ranvir, the first of the Ranvir class destroyers, was commissioned into the Indian navy on April 21, 1986. The ships were built in the former Soviet Union. The role of Ranvir class ships involves protection such as anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare for carrier task force defense against submarines, low-flying aircraft, and cruise missiles.
This is not the first accident involving a Navy vessel in Mumbai. In August 2013, submarine INS Sindhurakshak sank following explosions caused by a fire while it was berthed at Mumbai.