Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai: The body of Sitendra Singh, a Leading Seaman who went missing after a fire broke out on the Indian warship INS Brahmaputra at the Mumbai naval dockyard earlier this week, has been recovered. The ship sustained significant damage in the fire and is currently resting on its side in the sea.
Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal confirmed the recovery, stating, “The body of Sitendra Singh has been found today after intensive diving operations.”
Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, along with all personnel of the Indian Navy, expressed their deepest condolences to Singh’s family. Admiral Tripathi visited Mumbai to review the incident and the subsequent search efforts. He was briefed on the measures taken to limit damage and the plans to repair and restore the ship’s functionality swiftly.
“The Chief of Navy Staff directed that all necessary actions by the Command and Naval Headquarters be taken to make INS Brahmaputra seaworthy and combat-ready as soon as possible,” the Navy said in a statement. “The Indian Navy stands resolutely with the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” the statement added.
The fire on INS Brahmaputra, a multi-role frigate, erupted on the evening of July 21 while the ship was undergoing refit. The crew, along with firefighters from the Mumbai naval dockyard, managed to control the blaze by the morning of July 22. Despite these efforts, the ship experienced a “listing” to its port side and the sailor was declared missing.
The Navy’s statement on Monday reported that the ship could not be brought back to an upright position despite extensive efforts. The follow-up actions included thorough sanitisation checks to assess any residual fire risks.
