Navy warship on fire after collision with foreign vessel

Fire-fighters, along with Navy personnel, are battling a major blaze to salvage warship INS Vindhyagiri, which is listing after colliding with a merchant vessel at the Mumbai harbour.

"The fire broke out soon after the ship collided with another vessel on Sunday evening. The Mumbai fire brigade was alerted early on Monday," fire brigade sources said.

There is nobody on board the warship as everybody was evacuated on Sunday evening. On Monday morning, eight fire tankers were sent to douse the fire on board the ship, sources said.

The number has since gone up to 16, including six Jumbo tankers, they said. An official said there was a dent in the warship due to the impact of the collision, through which water had gushed into the vessel, causing it to tilt to one side.

Defence spokesman Manohar Nambiar said the ship was resting on the sea bed and it cannot sink as there was not enough water.

"The ship is listing on one side. This can be rectified. Once the water is pumped out, it will straighten," he said.

Asked about the threat of oil spill, he said, "As of now there is nothing like that, but it is always better to take precautions."

INS Vindhyagiri had collided with a Norwegian container.