Indian Navy Warship Suffers Massive Damage, Two Missing

This year’s winner of the Indian Navy’s "most spirited ship" award ended its life after an accident at a naval dockyard. In the past five years, Indian Navy has witnessed more than two dozen accidents leading to the loss of three major naval warships including a Kilo class submarine.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – A recently refurbished Indian naval warship became a complete write off after tilting over in a Mumbai dockyard. Initial findings behind the total loss of highly-prized 3,850-ton guided missile frigate Betwa attribute the accident to the failure of the dock block mechanism.

“There has been an incident in the cruiser grounding dock at the naval dockyard in Mumbai involving INS Betwa. The incident occurred during undocking evolution wherein it is suspected that dock block mechanism failed,” said Indian Navy Spokesperson Capt D K Sharma.

According to navy official, the 126.5-meter ship tipped over while it was being undocked after a refit. The mast of the ship hit the dockyard ground. Sources say that 14 persons were rescued with minor injuries while diving was in progress to look for two missing crew.

Commissioned in year 2004, INS Betwa can sail with a speed of 27 knots and is armed with anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles and torpedoes. The damaged ship INS Betwa had received ‘most spirited ship’ of Indian Navy for year 2016.

India’s Ministry of Defense document shows that more than two-dozen accidents have been reported involving naval warship and submarine since year 2011.