The Indian Navy started court martial proceedings against two officers for the July 2024 INS Brahmaputra mishap in Mumbai. Officials said the Captain and a Lieutenant Commander face negligence charges after the ship caught fire and capsized. A conviction could lead to punishments ranging from reprimand to two years imprisonment.

A conviction, in the 2024 fire and capsize incident, could attract punishments ranging from reprimand and loss of seniority to imprisonment of up to two years

The Indian Navy has initiated court martial proceedings against two officers for alleged negligence that led to the partial capsizing of guided-missile frigate INS Brahmaputra at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai in July 2024, officials said.

A senior official in the Navy confirmed that the proceedings against the warship's commanding officer, a Captain, and its officer of the day, a Lieutenant Commander, began on October 12 in Mumbai. The Captain faces charges of hazarding a naval ship and negligence in performing his duties, while the junior officer has been charged with negligence.

A conviction could attract punishments ranging from reprimand and loss of seniority to imprisonment of up to two years.

The 3,850-tonne frigate tilted onto its side after a fire broke out onboard while it was undergoing repairs. A sailor, Leading Seaman Sitendra Singh, died after drowning during the incident. Several crew members escaped using the gangway, while others jumped into the water.

Current status

INS Brahmaputra has since been repaired and is undergoing trials. It is expected to become seaworthy next year, another official said. The vessel's restoration involved months of efforts to bring it back to an upright position.

Following the mishap, then Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi constituted a special task force under a Rear Admiral to examine broader safety and security issues involving naval vessels. Its recommendations on safety protocols and standard operating procedures have been implemented across naval commands and establishments.

The incident also revived concerns over an earlier mishap involving INS Betwa, another Brahmaputra-class frigate, which toppled over during repairs at the Mumbai dockyard in December 2016, killing two sailors and injuring 14.

Three officers were court-martialled over the Betwa incident and awarded loss of seniority ranging from four to six months.