Ishika Kumar, Pune
A massive fire broke out at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard, on the evening of 21st July. Leading seaman Sitendra Singh went missing from the INS Brahmaputra and his body was found on Wednesday after several dives in the duration of those 3 days. The ship’s crew curtailed the fire the next day with the fire department’s help, and the Indian Navy was deeply shocked by this tragic incident. Since the damage to the ship was grievous, it caused the ship to recline on one end.
After reports of the disappearance of Singh in the fire, search efforts for him began immediately. His body was recovered after several hours of diving. The chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, along with the entire Indian Navy personnel, conveyed their heartfelt condolences to Singh’s family.
On 23rd July, Admiral Tripathi visited Mumbai to assess the aftermath of the fire accident and search for the seaman’s missing body. During his visit, Admiral Tripathi directed the Western Command and the Naval Headquarters to take all necessary steps in order to re-launch INS Brahmaputra and make it a seaworthy-combat-ready vessel, as soon as possible, post conducting a briefing on actions taken to repair the damage and restore the ship to its original functionality. He recounted the determination and strength of the Indian Navy to encourage the crew and asked them to work hard.
The INS Brahmaputra is the first among other indigenously produced missile frigates of the Brahmaputra class which entered service in 2000. The 3600-ton warship carries a variety of weapons, like surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, long guns, and anti-ship missile launchers, along with radar, sonar, and electronic warfare systems. With a length of 125 mts, a width of 14 mts and a top speed of 30 knots, the ship is a valuable asset, marking the capabilities of the Indian Navy.
The accident has also raised some serious concerns regarding the need for stringency in security guidelines on such military vessels. The Indian Navy has investigated to determine and understand the cause of the fire, in depth, and prevent similar accidents from happening in the future. The investigations are still underway.
The loss of leading seaman Sitendra Singh reveals inherent hazards which are faced by the Navy personnel, way more often than not. While the Navy mourns the loss of a dedicated soldier, full-fledged efforts are ongoing for the repair and restoration of INS Brahmaputra.
The dedication and resilience of the Naval camaraderie are evident as they navigate this turbulent period, to return the ship to its optimum and operational state, and honour the memory of their fallen comrade at the same time.