Two killed as major accident at Naval Dockyard damages missile frigate

Two naval personnel died while 14 others were rescued after Indian Navy battleship INS Betwa met with a major accident at a Naval Dockyard in Mumbai today.

INS Betwa, a guided missile frigate that was undergoing a refit at Mumbai's naval dockyard, tipped over today during undocking.

Navy Spokesperson Captain DK Sharma said the mast of the ship hit the dockyard ground, and that the suspected cause of the incident was failure of the dock blocks mechanism.

"The incident occurred during undocking evolution wherein it is suspected that dock blocks mechanism failed. Further information is awaited," Capt D K Sharma said.

The incidence cones a day after the close of the annual Navy Week celebrations. The extent of the damage done to the vessel is being assessed.

INS Betwa, a 3,850 tonne, 126-metre-long Brahmaputra-class guided missile frigate, was commissioned into the Navy in 2004.