Admiral Lanba meets kin of victim of INS Betwa accident

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba, who arrived here late last night to take stock of the situation, on Tuesday directed that the ship, in due course of time, be made upright and complete her refit to rejoin the fleet.

He also met kin of one of the deceased, NK Rai, and visited INHS Asvini to meet the injured personnel.

Admiral Lanba was briefed about the situation and the way ahead.

The Navy is making arrangements to fly out the mortal remains of the two sailors to their respective home towns in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and Satna, Madhya Pradesh using service aircraft by December 7, said a defence statement.

Meanwhile, technical evaluation for making the ship upright is in progress and a Board of Inquiry headed by Rear Admiral Deepak Bali has been ordered, said the statement.

At about 1:50 p.m. on Monday, Indian Naval Ship Betwa, a frigate of the Indian Navy, was in the process of undocking in Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, when she slipped from her dock blocks and listed (tilted) to her port side.

Immediate action was taken to get all personnel to safety, however, NK Rai, CHEAR, and Ashutosh Pandey, Ag LME, succumbed to injuries during the incident.