INS Betwa accident: Bodies of two missing crew members fished out

The bodies of two missing navy crew members were fished out, while other 14 minor injured were discharged after first-aid at Indian Naval Hospital (INHS) Asvini, after INS Betwa which was undergoing refit at Naval dockyard in Mumbai slipped on dock blocks Monday afternoon.

Earlier, Navy PRO D.K. Sharma said, "This is a very unfortunate and unprecedented incident. The ship met with an accident in the afternoon. It tilted to the left. It never happened previously in Betwa's history. Two people are missing and we are assuming that one might be inside the ship. However, we have rescued 14 others from the dock with minor injuries and all are stable, while divers have been deployed to look for two missing crew members."

INS Betwa is a 4000 tonne frigate of the Brahmaputra class built by Garden Reach Ship Builders of Kolkata and entered service in July 2004.

The incidence occurred when INS Betwa tipped over and hit the land after it was undocked at the dockyard. The incident occurred during undocking evolution wherein it is suspected that the dock blocks mechanism has failed, said Navy PRO, adding that the extent of damage is being assessed.

The Navy has ordered an inquiry into the incident.