Fire Breaks Out on Indian Naval Ship Brahmaputra During Refit

Mumbai: A fire broke out on the Indian Naval Ship Brahmaputra, a multi-role frigate, on the evening of 21 July 2024 while the vessel was undergoing refit at the Naval Dockyard (ND), Mumbai. The blaze was quickly brought under control by the ship’s crew, with crucial assistance from firefighters at the Naval Dockyard and other ships in the harbor. By the morning of 22 July, the situation had been managed, and further follow-up actions, including sanitisation checks to assess any residual fire risks, were conducted.

However, in the afternoon, the ship experienced severe listing to its port side. Despite extensive efforts to correct the tilt, the vessel could not be brought back to an upright position. The Brahmaputra continued to list further while alongside its berth and is currently resting on one side.

All personnel aboard have been accounted for, except one junior sailor, for whom a search operation is underway. The Indian Navy has ordered an inquiry to investigate the cause and circumstances surrounding the fire and subsequent listing of the ship.