3 Naval personnel killed in explosion onboard INS Ranvir at Mumbai Dockyard

Three naval personnel were killed and 11 sailors were injured in an explosion reported in an internal compartment onboard INS Ranvir on Tuesday.

Mumbai: Three naval personnel were killed in an explosion on board INS Ranvir docked at Naval Dockyard Mumbai, on Tuesday. While Indian Navy has not officially disclosed the details of the injured, ANI has reported quoting its sources that 11 were injured and they were being treated in a local naval hospital in Mumbai.

"In an unfortunate incident at Naval Dockyard Mumbai on Tuesday, three naval personnel lost their lives in an explosion in an internal compartment onboard INS Ranvir," said a statement from the Ministry of Defence.

"Responding immediately, the ship's crew brought the situation under control. There is no major material damage. INS Ranvir was on cross coast operational deployment from the Eastern Naval Command and was due to return to base port shortly. A Board of inquiry has been ordered to investigate into the cause," the statement added.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he was saddened by the incident and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families. "The news of explosion onboard INS Ranvir is extremely sad. My condolences to the family and friends of the Navy sailors who’ve lost their lives. Wishing quick and complete recovery for the injured," he tweeted.

Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu who offered his condolences wished the injured a speedy recovery. "Deeply saddened by the tragic news of an explosion onboard INS Ranvir. Condolences to the families of the Navy sailors who’ve lost their lives. May the injured recover soo," he said, in a twitter post.

INS Ranvir, the first of the Ranvir class destroyers, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on April 21, 1986. The ship has a displacement of 5,000 tonnes, a length of 146 metres, beam of 15.8 metres and is capable of speed in excess of 30 knots. She is manned by a crew of 30 officers and 310 sailors and is equipped with an array of weapons and sensors which include, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft and anti-missile guns and torpedo and anti-submarine rocket launchers.

The ship is also capable of operating the Kamov 28 anti-submarine helicopter, which enables the ship to perform a wide variety of roles including coastal and offshore patrolling, monitoring of Sea Lines of Communication, maritime diplomacy, counter terrorism and anti-piracy operations.