Within the wake of the fireplace accident on board the INS Brahmaputra on July 21, navy chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi has arrange a particular job drive (STF) underneath Naval Headquarters to evaluation the protection, safety and customary working procedures of the Indian Navy, based on folks conscious of the matter. Headed by a Rear Admiral, the STF is anticipated to submit its report within the subsequent 60 days.
Whereas the navy stays tight-lipped concerning the incident, Admiral Tripathi has given his preliminary evaluation concerning the INS Brahmaputra fireplace incident to defence minister Rajnath Singh after his go to to the accident web site on July 23, the folks cited above stated. The Prime Minister’s Workplace and the Chief of Defence Workers (CDS) have additionally been briefed concerning the fireplace on the warship at Mumbai Naval Dockyards.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a high-level assembly with the armed forces on January 13, had made it clear that he needed accountability for all accidents and laid stress on the upkeep of costly naval platforms, the folks stated. He had conveyed to CDS Basic Anil Chauhan after which navy chief Admiral Okay Hari Kumar that earlier than the Indian Navy acquires new platforms, it ought to make sure that all the current platforms are saved combating match. Modi had additionally expressed concern over wasteful expenditure on account of laxity in some situations. Taking the PM’s directions in thoughts, Admiral Tripathi had despatched a three-page confidential message to the whole navy on June 4 highlighting the necessity for security on ships.
Learn extra: Navy chief reviews damage to warship INS Brahmaputra at Mumbai dockyard
INS Brahmaputra, a 3,850-tonne guided missile frigate constructed at the price of ₹450 crore, was present process a significant refit on the Naval Dockyards (since February 2024) when a bit of vessel caught fireplace. Whereas a Board of Inquiry has been set as much as study the accident and repair accountability, folks conscious of the matter indicated that the fireplace occurred whereas welding was occurring in one of many sections beneath the deck. One sailor misplaced his life and two others had been injured within the fireplace, which began on the night of July 21 and was extinguished on July 22, by when the vessel had listed at a forty five diploma angle on the port (left) facet. On the time of the incident, the vessel was within the habour and underneath the Western Naval Command, and the firefighting operations had been coordinated by the identical command. Navy chief Tripathi rushed to Mumbai as quickly as the fireplace on the ill-fated frigate was doused and was on the accident web site for inspection.
Whereas the Naval Headquarters and the defence minister have gotten a prima facie evaluation of the accident, the STF will study the present procedures to forestall fireplace, flooding and grounding of naval platforms, and recommend improvements to plug present gaps. The STF may even evaluation the protection, safety and organisation throughout the navy and make suggestions to the Naval Headquarters. This may embody auditing gear, personnel, coaching and customary working procedures on the protection entrance, and analyzing naval bases on the safety entrance.
Folks conscious of the matter stated that the STF has additionally been given the mandate to look at and suggest tips to deal with sabotage, and present and rising threats.
Whereas it’s prone to take a minimum of two months to get the frigate to dry dock from the present place, the defence minister and the navy chief are involved about accidents at Mumbai Naval Dockyards up to now decade, the folks stated. In December 2016, INS Betwa, a Brahmaputra-class frigate, slipped on the dock blocks in a freak accident whereas present process repairs within the Mumbai dockyard.