The two officers facing court-martial are the ship's commanding officer, a captain, and its officer of the day, a lieutenant commander. According to officials aware of the matter, the military court began proceedings in Mumbai on October 12.
The captain, whose rank is equivalent to that of an army colonel, faces charges including hazarding an Indian Navy ship and negligence in the performance of his duties. The junior officer has been charged with negligence, Hindustan Times has learnt. In naval terminology, hazarding refers to putting a ship in danger.
If convicted, the officers could face punishments ranging from a reprimand and loss of seniority to imprisonment for up to two years.
The 3,850-tonne INS Brahmaputra, built by Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE), tipped over on its side at the Naval Dockyard in July 2024 after a fire broke out on board. During firefighting operations, teams pumped large volumes of water into the vessel to control the blaze, following which the warship partially capsized.
The incident resulted in the death of Leading Seaman Sitendra Singh, who was among the crew members involved in the repair work. While most personnel managed to leave the vessel using the gangway, some jumped into the water and swam to safety. Singh drowned.
The mishap raised questions about operational oversight and compliance with safety protocols during repair operations.
INS Brahmaputra has not yet returned to active service, another official said. The frigate has undergone repairs and is currently undergoing trials. It is likely to become seaworthy sometime next year.
The warship's return to service was initially uncertain because of the extent of the damage. Restoring the frigate to an upright position itself took several months.
A Navy spokesperson said establishing the cause of the incident, fixing responsibility and introducing safeguards were essential to prevent a recurrence.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy in April 2000, INS Brahmaputra measures 125 metres in length and 16 metres in beam. The warship is manned by a crew of 370 personnel, including 40 officers.
Following the INS Brahmaputra incident, then Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi constituted a special task force (STF) under a rear admiral to examine broader safety and security concerns involving naval vessels and recommend measures to minimise or eliminate accidents.
The task force subsequently issued recommendations covering safety, security and standard operating procedures. These measures were circulated to all naval commands, establishments and units and have since been implemented.
The INS Brahmaputra incident also brought renewed attention to an earlier accident involving another warship of the same class.
In December 2016, INS Betwa, a Brahmaputra-class guided-missile frigate, toppled over after slipping off its dock blocks at the Naval Dockyard during repair work. The accident killed two sailors and injured 14 others.
The ship was salvaged and restored to an upright position within two-and-a-half months. It re-entered service six months later.
Three officers faced court-martial proceedings over alleged negligence in the INS Betwa incident. They were awarded punishments involving a loss of seniority ranging from four to six months.
The court-martial proceedings against the two INS Brahmaputra officers will determine responsibility for the 2024 mishap, while the Navy's implemented safety recommendations are aimed at addressing wider operational risks and preventing similar accidents involving its vessels.
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