Navy orders inquiry as BJP seeks AK Antony's resignation

An enquiry has been ordered by the Navy into the gas leak on an under-construction ship at the Mazagaon dock in Mumbai yesterday that killed one of its officers.

"A Board of Inquiry has been ordered by the Indian Navy to investigate the causes leading to the accident," a statement from the Navy stated. 

Commander Kuntal Wadhwa, 42, died after inhaling carbon dioxide that leaked from a malfunctioning unit just a little after noon during machinery trials. The yet-to-be-commissioned ship is one of three Kolkata class destroyers being built under the Navy's Project 15 A.

Two employees of the defence ministry shipyard, who were hospitalised due to the gas leakage, have been discharged.

Last week,  two officers were killed in a fire aboard a Navy submarine INS Sindhuratna, which had been refitted and was being sea-tested.

Navy chief Admiral DK Joshi had resigned owning moral responsibility for that and several other accidents in the last few months, including the blast that sank another submarine INS Sindhurakshak in August last year, killing all 18 sailors and officers on board..

There have been 11 accidents invoving Indian Navy ships and submarines since last August. While most of the accidents did not claim any lives, 21 officers and sailors have died in three mishaps.

INS Sindhurakshak (August 14, 2013) - Eighteen crew members on board - three officers and 15 sailors - were killed when blasts ripped through the torpedo compartment of the INS Sindhurakshak while the submarine was berthed in Mumbai harbour.

INS Viraat (September 2013) - Fire broke out near the officer's mess of the aircraftcarrier off the Mumbai coast. No casualties were reported.

INS Konkan (December 4, 2013) - A minesweeper of the Eastern Naval Command, the vessel caught fire at the naval dockyard at Visakhapatnam while undergoing repairs. The fire engulfed much of the ship's interiors before it doused. No deaths were reported.

INS Talwar (December 23, 2013) - A fishing trawler sank after colliding with the frontline frigate near Ratnagiri district, injuring four of the 27 people aboard the trawler. The trawler was operating without lights. There were no causalties onboard the ship.

INS Tarkash (December 2013) - A stealth frigate which conducted several overseas missions, INS Tarkash suffered damage to its hull when it hit the jetty while docking at the Mumbai. There were no casualties.

INS Betwa (January 22, 2014) - The indigenously built frigate ran aground and collided with an unidentified object while approaching the Mumbai harbour. The frigate's sonar system was found to be cracked, leading to faulty readings and ingress of saltwater into sensitive equipment.

INS Vipul (January 2014) Deployed with the elite 22nd Killer Missile Vessel Squadron, a hole was detected in a compartment, forced it back into the harbour while it was on an operational mission. It had to be sent for repairs.

INS Sindhughosh (January 2014) - The leading ship of her class of diesel-electric submarines, the Sindhughosh ran aground at the naval harbour in Mumbai. The submarine was re-floated and did not suffer much damage. At the time of the incident, it was fully armed, carrying its entire compliment of 70 personnel, all of whom were safe.

INS Airavat (February 3, 2014) - Amphibious ship INS Airavat, the latest of the Shardul class of tank-landing ships, ran aground off the coast of Visakhapatnam. The propellers of the warship were permanently damaged and had to be replaced for the vessel to become operational again.

INS Sindhuratna (February 26, 2014) Two sailors died and seven members of the 94-strong crew were evacuated after inhaling smoke aboard the diesel-powered submarine following a fire. A board of inquiry in its preliminary report, said that fire in some cables led to the smoke in the third compartment.

INS Kolkata (Yard 701) (March 7, 2014) - An officer was killed and a worker injured after inhaling carbon dioxide gas which leaked from a container in the advanced warship at Mumbai's Mazagon Dock Limited.

Also read: BJP demands AK Antony's resignation on naval warship incident

With inputs from agencies