Nearly two years after a fire during repairs caused the guided-missile frigate to list heavily and come to rest on its side, the Indian Navy has initiated court-martial proceedings against the ship’s commanding officer and the officer of the day. The proceedings began in Mumbai on 12 October 2026. Both officers face charges of negligence in the performance of their duties; the commanding officer, a captain, additionally faces a charge of hazarding a naval vessel.
The incident occurred on the evening of 21 July 2024 while INS Brahmaputra was undergoing a refit at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. A fire broke out on board. Ship’s crew, dockyard firefighters, and assistance from nearby vessels brought the blaze under control by the morning of 22 July. Large volumes of water used in firefighting, however, compromised the vessel’s stability. The 3,850-tonne frigate developed a severe port-side list and ultimately toppled onto its side alongside the berth.
Most personnel evacuated via the gangway; some jumped into the water and swam to safety. Leading Seaman Sitendra Singh, who was involved in the repair work, went missing. His body was recovered on 24 July after intensive diving operations. The Navy extended condolences to his family.
INS Brahmaputra is the lead ship of its indigenous class of guided-missile frigates. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, it was commissioned in April 2000. It measures approximately 125 metres in length and 16 metres in beam, with a complement of about 370 personnel, including 40 officers.
A board of inquiry headed by a Rear Admiral-rank officer investigated the incident. Then Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi also constituted a special task force under a rear admiral to review broader shipboard safety, security, and operating procedures across naval commands, establishments, and units. The task force’s recommendations were circulated and implemented to strengthen safeguards during repairs and maintenance.
Salvage operations to right the ship took several months; by late 2024 it had been returned to an upright position and moved to dry dock. Subsequent repairs have been completed, and the frigate is currently undergoing trials. Officials have stated that it has not yet been formally returned to operational service and is expected to become seaworthy sometime in 2027.
If convicted by the court-martial, the officers could face punishments ranging from reprimand and loss of seniority to imprisonment for up to two years. A Navy spokesperson has stated that establishing the cause, fixing responsibility, and putting safeguards in place are essential to prevent recurrence. The specific actions or omissions underlying the charges have not been publicly detailed; the court-martial is expected to examine the officers’ responsibility for the sequence of events that led to the fire, the vessel’s loss of stability, and the fatality.
The 2024 accident followed a similar incident involving INS Betwa, another frigate that capsized at the same Mumbai dockyard in 2016 after slipping from dock blocks. The Navy has emphasised the need for rigorous oversight during refits of complex warships, where water used in firefighting can rapidly alter stability if not carefully managed.
