Frequent Mishaps in Indian Navy: A Web Media Analysis
A series of accidents involving Indian Navy warships continues. On November 21, 2024, an Indian Navy submarine collided with the fishing vessel Marthoma off Goa’s coast, likely during a surfacing maneuver in a fishing area. The submarine, possibly from the Shishumar or Kalvari class, might have sustained damage to critical components such as its snorkel and communication antennas, though the extent of the damage remains unclear. The incident underscores the hazards of naval operations in crowded maritime zones and highlights the importance of robust safety measures. Rescue operations are ongoing, and investigations are expected to follow.
On 21 July, the Indian Navy’s Brahmaputra class frigate, INS Brahmaputra, listed to one side after getting severely damaged in a fire incident, resultantly one sailor died. This is the second warship of the same class to have suffered an accident in the Indian Naval Dockyard. In 2016, INS Betwa tipped over and crashed onto its side during undocking at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
In an initial statement, the Indian Navy said: “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.” However, the Indian Navy has not officially stated the full extent of the damage, but sources suggest that restoring the ship to its original capabilities will be challenging.
Upon closely examining the pictures of INS Brahmaputra, it’s evident that this incident is severe. The Indian military is often criticized for using euphemisms in their statements. For instance, the Indian Navy’s statement gently described the ship as “resting on its side,” which is misleading. The ship is actually half-sunk, with extensive damage visible, including the superstructure smashed into the concrete dock and one propeller in the air. This is a nearly 4,000-ton ship, and such a collapse implies significant internal and external damage.
A trend of accidents and mishaps has raised serious concerns about the Indian Navy’s operational readiness and safety protocols. Between 2000 and 2024, the Indian Navy reported more than 27 accidents involving ships and submarines. Despite recommendations and corrective measures suggested by Indian audit reports, the Indian Navy appears to have struggled to implement effective changes.
Also read this: Indian Defense Budget Examined Through Online Media
More than 27 incidents involving Indian Navy ships and submarines have been reported during the last two decades. The details of these accidents are as under:
| Sr. No. | Indian Navy Warship | Date of incident | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | INS Trishul (Talwar-Class Frigate) | December 2005 | Collided with a commercial vessel outside Mumbai harbour while returning from a training mission |
| 2 | INS Prahar (Veer-Class Corvette) | April 2006 | Collided with container ship and sank off the Coast of Goa |
| 3 | INS Dunagiri (Nilgiri-Class Frigate) | September 2006 | Collided with a merchant vessel off the Coast of Mumbai |
| 4 | INS Sindhughosh (Kilo-Class Submarine) | January 2008 | Collided with a foreign merchant vessel while trying to surface in waters north of Mumbai |
| 5 | INS Kuthar (Missile Corvette) | August 2009 | Collided with destroyer INS Ranvir in the Bay of Bengal |
| 6 | INS Vindhyagiri (Nilgiri-Class Frigate) | January 2011 | Capsized after a collision with the Cyprus-flagged merchant vessel MV Nordlake off the coast of Mumbai |
| 7 | INS Deepak (Fleet Tanker) | May 2011 | Fire in Galley onboard INS Deepak |
| 8 | INS Shankush (Diesel-Electric Submarine | December 2012 | Fire in AFT battery pit onboard INS Shankush |
| 9 | INS Tarasa (Patrol Vessel) | July 2013 | Fire onboard INS Tarasa |
| 10 | INS Sindhurakshak (Kilo-Class Submarine) | August 2013 | Explosion in the torpedo compartment of the submarine while it was berthed at the Naval Dockyard off the Mumbai Coast |
| 11 | INS Viraat (Aircraft Carrier) | September 2013 | Fire onboard INS Viraat |
| 12 | INS Talwar (Talwar-Class Frigate) | December 2013 | Collided with a fishing trawler off the Coast of Maharashtra |
| 13 | INS Tarkash (Talwar-Class Frigate) | December 2013 | Suffered damage when it hit the jetty while docking at the Mumbai Naval Base |
| 14 | INS Betwa (Guided Missile Destroyer) | January 2014 | Ran aground and collided with an unidentified object while approaching the Mumbai Naval Base |
| 15 | INS Singhghosh (Diesel-Electric Submarine) | January 2014 | Suspended movement of INS Singhghosh while securing to alongside berth |
| 16 | INS Vipul (Veer-Class Corvette) | January 2014 | Sea water ingress into tiller flat through a crack / hole in ship side of INS Vipul |
| 17 | INS Airavat (Shardul-Class Amphibious Warfare Vessel) | January 2014 | Damage to Port propeller of INS Airavat while entering Harbour |
| 18 | INS Sindhuratna (Kilo-Class Submarine) | February 2014 | Incident of fire in third compartment and death of two officers onboard INS Sindhuratna |
| 19 | INS Kolkata (Guided-Missile Destroyer) | March 2014 | Malfunction on board INS Kolkata which led to a toxic gas leak killing Commander Kuntal Wadhwa |
| 20 | INS Kora (Guided-Missile Corvette) | October 2014 | Collision of INS Kora with MV Madeleine Rickmers at Sea |
| 21 | INS Nireekshak (Diving Support Vessel) | April 2016 | Oxygen cylinder explosion |
| 22 | INS Vikramaditya (Aircraft Carrier) | June 2016 | Toxic gas leak that occurred during maintenance work, killing one sailor |
| 23 | INS Dega (Naval Air Station) | August 2016 | A minor fire broke out at INS Dega after a MiG-29K accidentally jettisoned one of its drop tanks |
| 24 | INS Nashak (Destroyer) | November 2016 | Front portion of INS Nashak was damaged when its GT engines failed in Mumbai harbour and it collided with a jetty |
| 25 | INS Betwa (Guided Missile Destroyer) | December 2016 | Two sailors died when INS Betwa tipped over and crashed on its side while it was undocking in Mumbai |
| 26 | INS Ranvijay (Rajput-Class Destroyer) | October 2021 | Four sailors were injured when a fire broke out on the INS Ranvijay while it was berthed in Visakhapatnam |
| 27 | INS Ranvir | January 2022 | Three sailors died when an explosion took place aboard the INS Ranvir while it was docked in Mumbai |
The series of accidents involving the Indian Navy, including significant incidents like the sinking of INS Sindhurakshak, the collision of INS Vindhyagiri, and ongoing issues such as minor fires and navigational errors, point to deeper systemic problems within the force. The public perception of the Indian Navy is significantly impacted by these repeated incidents.
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