Two sailors dead as Indian warship tips over during undocking

December 5, 2016

Two sailors were confirmed dead while a number of others are being treated for injuries after the Indian Navy frigate INS Betwa tipped over on Monday as it was being undocked at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.

“The incident occurred in the Cruiser Graving Dock during undocking evolution wherein it is suspected that the dock blocks mechanism has failed,” Indian Navy spokesperson, Captain (IN) D K Sharma, was quoted as saying by the Indian media.

Pictures on social media show the frigate on its port side in the dock. Betwa has likely sustained damage to her mast and side, and it remains to be seen whether the ship can be saved.

INS Betwa lying on side after she collapsed down due to a mishap while leaving the port after a refit. #INSBetwa @indiannavy #navalcraft pic.twitter.com/piVGbUwlv4

— IADnews (@newsiadn) December 5, 2016

INS Betwa is an indigenously designed and built guided missile frigate of the Brahmaputra-class. The ship is 125 meters long and displaces 3,600 tonnes. It was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2004.