Three killed, 11 injured in blast at Mumbai's Naval Dockyard

Mumbai: Three Indian sailors were killed while 11 others sustained serious injuries following an explosion on board the Rajput-class destroyer, INS Ranvir, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.

According to officials, the blast occurred in an internal compartment on the ship around 4.45pm. The compartment was anchored at Mumbai on cross-coast deployment from eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam. 

Reports quoting sources said that the blast was probably due to leakage of gas in the air-conditioning compartment of the warship. 

However, a board of inquiry has been set up to investigate what happened.

As per authorities, those who died in the explosion were sitting in their cabin adjoining the AC compartment.

“The cabin collapsed on them. The blast was not ammunition-related,” said officials. 

A defence spokesperson said, “The ship’s crew responded immediately and brought the situation under control. No major material damage has been reported”. 

“INS Ranvir has been on a cross-coast operational deployment from the eastern Naval Command since November 2021 and was due to return to base port shortly,” said the spokesperson.

The ministry’s statement said that the ship was on cross coast deployment from the Eastern Naval Command since November and was due to return to its home port shortly.