Smoke sets off fire scare on INS Talwar

Mumbai: There was a fire scare on board the INS Talwar on April 2 after smoke was detected on it on April 2. The source of the smoke turned out to be some welding activity as the ship is undergoing refitting at the city’s Naval docks. Naval officials said that a full security drill was followed and all concerned authorities were informed about the incident, including the Mumbai fire brigade, as part of the standard operating procedure (SOP).

The smoke was extinguished using onboard portable extinguishers. No injuries or casualties have been reported. Neither has there been any damage to property, officials added.

The smoke was observed in the main engine room (MER) as a result of welding being undertaken for repairs, naval officials said. “As a precautionary measure and SOP, actions were taken, including informing and calling the dockyard fire brigades,” stated a release from the Navy.

The smoke detection incident was sensitive if one takes into account the sinking of Naval submarine INS Sindhurakshak in August 2013, triggered by couple of explosions. The missiles onboard the submarine got ignited due to heat and fired inside the vessel causing the blast. At least 18 sailors perished inside the underwater vessel and several others jumped off to safety.