Blast kills three, injures 11 on Indian Navy destroyer

The Indian Navy Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvir during Exercise Malabar 2009 in the Pacific Ocean (Photo: US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cynthia Griggs)

Three Indian Navy sailors were killed while another 11 suffered less severe injuries following an explosion on board their vessel on Tuesday, January 18.

The incident on the Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvir occurred shortly after 16:30 local time on Tuesday while it was anchored off Mumbai.

Navy officials said Master Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Krishan Kumar and Master Chief Petty Officers 2nd Class Surinder Kumar and A.K. Singh all succumbed to injuries they sustained as a result of the blast.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the explosion may have been triggered by a gas leak in one of the onboard AC compartments. The three personnel who perished were reportedly in an adjacent compartment at the time.

Officials clarified that Ranvir itself suffered only minor structural damage and that the explosion had nothing to do with the ship’s weapons or ammunition.

The navy has ordered a board of inquiry to identify the events that led to the mishap.


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