Mumbai: In a tragic incident off the coast of Goa, a collision between the Indian Navy submarine INS Karanj and a fishing boat resulted in the deaths of two fishermen and significant damages worth crores to the submarine. Following the incident, FIRs have been registered at Mumbai’s Yellow Gate Police Station. The deceased fishermen’s bodies have been sent to JJ Hospital for identification.
According to Mumbai Police, the collision occurred when 13 crew members were aboard the fishing boat. While 11 were rescued, two fishermen tragically lost their lives. The FIR filed on November 30 at Yellow Gate Police Station states that INS Karanj was operating at periscope depth, traveling at a speed of 6 knots southeast of the Goa coast, at approximately 7:15 PM on November 21. The submarine crew spotted a dimly lit, stationary fishing boat, identified as F V Marthoma, about 2–3 kilometers away. However, the boat was not transmitting via the Automatic Identification System (AIS), making it difficult to track its speed, location, and direction.
According to Navy Complainant Executive Officer Kamal Preet Singh (35), sonar systems detected the fishing boat. Despite efforts to change the submarine’s speed and direction to avoid the collision, the fishing boat unexpectedly increased its speed and collided with the submarine.
Following the collision, the fishing boat capsized. Commander Arunabh, aboard the submarine, immediately alerted Naval Headquarters via satellite communication and initiated rescue operations. Despite challenging conditions, including slippery surfaces caused by oil and diesel spills, the submarine crew managed to rescue five fishermen. Six others swam to a nearby fishing boat, which later transferred them to a Navy ship assisting in the rescue. Tragically, two fishermen were reported missing, and their bodies were later recovered during the search operations.
The collision caused severe damage to INS Karanj, with critical components such as the radar, communication systems, and periscope being affected. The estimated repair cost is ₹10 crore.
The FIR accuses the fishing boat’s captain, Tandel, of negligence, stating that he failed to acknowledge the visible parts of the submarine above water and recklessly increased the boat’s speed, leading to the collision. His actions not only caused significant damage but also resulted in the loss of two lives and injuries to the rest of the crew. A case has been registered against the unknown person under sections 106(1), 125, 282, 324(3), and 324(5) of the BNS Act. The Yellow Gate Police are conducting further investigations.
