3 killed, 11 injured in blast on Navy ship in Mumbai

Three Indian Navy sailors were killed and 11 sustained burn injuries in an explosion on board the Rajput-class destroyer, INS Ranvir, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai of India on Tuesday.

The explosion occurred around 4.45pm in an internal compartment of the destroyer, which was anchored at Mumbai on cross-coast deployment from eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam, reports The Times of India.

Though the board of inquiry ordered into the mishap will ascertain exact details, sources said the blast was probably due to leakage of gas in the air-conditioning compartment of the warship. “Those who died were sitting in their cabin adjoining the AC compartment when the blast occurred. The cabin collapsed on them. The blast was not ammunition-related,” a source told TOI.

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.