A fishing vessel named Marthoma collided with an Indian Navy submarine approximately 70 nautical miles off the coast of Goa. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, has prompted a major search and rescue operation as efforts are underway to locate two crew members who are reported missing from the fishing vessel.
In response to the situation, the Indian Navy has mobilized a number of additional assets, including support from the Coast Guard, to enhance the ongoing search efforts. An Indian Navy spokesperson confirmed that operations commenced immediately following the collision and have involved six naval ships and aircraft. These rescue operations have so far been successful, resulting in the safe retrieval of eleven out of the thirteen crew members from the Marthoma.
Sources indicate that the submarine was in transit along the West Coast when the collision occurred, but details regarding any potential damage to the submarine remain unclear. In light of the incident, the Navy has initiated a high-level investigation to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the collision.
This incident comes on the heels of another significant event earlier this year, where the Indian Navy warship INS Brahmaputra sank at a Mumbai dockyard after a fire erupted during maintenance work. Efforts are currently underway to repair the INS Brahmaputra, with the aim of returning it to operational status.
As the search and rescue operation continues, the Navy is focused on ensuring the safety of all personnel involved and determining the cause of the incident involving the Marthoma and the submarine.