New Delhi: The Indian Navy has initiated court-martial proceedings against two officers over alleged lapses linked to the July 2024 fire and partial capsizing of guided-missile frigate INS Brahmaputra at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard. The commanding officer faces charges of hazarding a naval vessel and negligence, while the officer of the day is accused of negligence.
The proceedings began in Mumbai on October 12, according to officials cited by Hindustan Times on Wednesday. The officers are a captain and a lieutenant commander.
The captain faces charges of hazarding a naval ship, a term referring to conduct that endangers a vessel, and negligence in performing his duties. If convicted, the officers could face punishments ranging from reprimand and loss of seniority to imprisonment for up to two years. No verdict has been reported.
Fire, fatality and repairs
The warship caught fire on July 21, 2024, while undergoing repairs. Firefighters from the dockyard and nearby vessels helped contain the blaze by the following morning, but Brahmaputra subsequently developed a severe port-side list and came to rest on its side.
Large quantities of water were used during firefighting, although the precise circumstances behind the vessel’s loss of stability have not been conclusively established publicly.
Leading Seaman Sitendra Singh, who was among the personnel involved in repair work, drowned during the incident. While most crew members escaped using the gangway, others jumped into the water and swam to safety. Navy divers recovered Singh’s body on July 24 following an intensive search.
It took several months to restore INS Brahmaputra to an upright position following the accident. The frigate has since undergone repairs but remains out of operational service. It is undergoing trials and could become seaworthy in 2027, an official told Hindustan Times. Seaworthiness would not automatically mean its return to active service.
Navy strengthens safety procedures
Following the accident, the-then Navy chief, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, established a rear admiral-led task force to examine shipboard safety, security and operating procedures. Its recommendations were circulated to naval commands, establishments and units and have since been implemented.
Establishing the cause, fixing responsibility and strengthening safeguards were essential to preventing similar accidents, a Navy spokesperson said.
Built by garden reach shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata, the 3,850-tonne Brahmaputra was commissioned in April 2000. The 125 metre frigate has a 16 metre beam and a complement of approximately 370 personnel, including 40 officers.
The accident recalls the December 2016 capsizing of sister ship INS Betwa at the same dockyard. It slipped from dock supports during repairs, killing two sailors and injuring 14. Three officers subsequently received penalties involving four to six months’ loss of seniority following court-martial proceedings, although the two incidents had different reported circumstances.