Nearly two years after the warship INS Brahmaputra overturned inside the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, the Indian Navy has initiated court-martial proceedings against two serving officers. The disciplinary action targets the ship's then commanding officer, who holds the rank of Captain, alongside the officer of the day, a Lieutenant Commander. Both officers face charges of gross negligence while on duty, with the Captain additionally charged with the serious offence of hazarding a naval vessel under naval law.
The July 2024 Dockyard Fire and Fatal Capsize
The incident traces back to 21 July 2024, when INS Brahmaputra caught fire while undergoing refit and maintenance work at the Mumbai Naval Dockyard. Emergency teams deployed massive volumes of water inside the vessel to bring the intense flames under control. However, the accumulation of enormous quantities of firefighting water destabilised the ship's internal balance. Unable to maintain its centre of gravity, the warship listed heavily to the port side before completely overturning.
The capsize triggered an urgent evacuation amid dangerous conditions. Several naval personnel managed to escape via the dockside gangways, while others were forced to jump into the sea to survive. The tragedy claimed the life of Leading Seaman Sitendra Singh. Following an extensive and difficult search operation conducted by naval divers and rescue teams, the body of the sailor was eventually recovered.
Inquiry and Accountability
Initial findings from the site revealed that despite persistent counter-flooding efforts and technical interventions, emergency teams could not halt the progressive listing towards the harbour. The sheer volume of water pumped into the compartments to extinguish the fire was identified as the primary factor that upset the warship's buoyancy and equilibrium. A formal board of inquiry was ordered by the Navy to examine the systemic and human failures leading to the incident, ultimately resulting in the current court-martial proceedings for professional dereliction.
Salvage Operation and Projected 2027 Recommissioning
Righting the overturned frigate required an intricate, months-long salvage operation executed under challenging dockyard conditions. Once the warship was successfully restored to an upright position, technical personnel began extensive structural repairs, machinery overhauls, and restoration work. INS Brahmaputra is currently undergoing rigorous trials to assess its seaworthiness. The vessel has not yet been formally recommissioned into operational deployment, with naval projections indicating that the warship will be fully ready for frontline sea service by 2027.
