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In November 2011, the Indian Navy was particularly incensed with what a US naval lieutenant had posted on a blog. The unnamed lieutenant, who spent four days on destroyer INS Delhi in the Arabian Sea as part of an exchange programme, called the Indian crew "generally clueless", with "almost zero seamanship skills". It was a long, harsh critique of what he saw on the frontline warship. At the behest of the Indian Navy, the blog was removed soon after.<br><br>Did the blog touch a raw nerve? Just 10 months earlier, the naval frigate INS Vindhyagiri collided with a merchant tanker in Mumbai harbour and sank. It was the fourth time a warship was completely written off in 23 years. Since 1990, the Indian Navy has lost one warship in peacetime every five years. Since 2004, it has lost one naval combatant every two years. Few global navies have such a dubious record.<br><br><div class="itg-mosimage"><div class="itgimage"><amp-img  src="https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/sites/media2/indiatoday/images/stories/2013aug/ins_082413013026.jpg" alt = "" height="425" width="650" class="" layout="responsive"></amp-img></div></div>Five days after the August 14 explosion destroyed INS Sindhurakshak, killing 18 crew members, Defence Minister A.K. Antony told Rajya Sabha that "preliminary probe indicated the blast was due to possible ignition of armament". Armed with torpedoes and missiles, the submarine was fully fuelled and ready to sail for patrol early next morning.<br><br>Former southern naval commander Vice Admiral K.N. Sushil (retired) says it is too early to conclude it sank due to negligence. Evidence points to a blast in an oxygen-fuelled torpedo, he says. "The Navy must do a forensic examination to pinpoint the cause," he adds.<br><br>What is worrying is that with each warship loss, key maritime capabilities are being lost. Sindhurakshak had returned from Russia four months ago, and after a two-and-a-half year refit, was the Navy's most potent conventional submarine. The frigate INS Vindhyagiri was the only warship that could control spy drones far out at sea.<br><br>Peacetime losses of warships are not uncommon. Since the World War II, the US Navy has lost 16 warships in accidents. Russia's nuclear submarine Kursk sank in August 2000 after a faulty torpedo exploded during a training exercise. But in case of the smaller Indian Navy-it only has 30 frontline warships and 14 submarines-they point to a far disturbing trend, of human rather than technical error. Prahar and Vindhyagiri collided with lumbering merchant vessels. INS Agray was cut into half in 2004 when a crew member tossed a misfired anti-submarine rocket overboard.<br><br>The spate of accidents comes at a time when the fleet is expanding in both size and complexity. Last year, the Navy acquired INS Chakra, its first nuclear-powered attack submarine, from Russia. It is set to induct its largest ship, the 44,000-tonne aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, from Russia this year. Former eastern naval commander Vice Admiral A.K. Singh (retired) slams the Government's apathy. "The Navy is using vessels long past their service years of 25 and 30 years as the Government doesn't sanction new ones in time," he says.<br><br>Ageing ships alone do not explain other accidents and collisions. Naval officials say there are a series of smaller mishaps that point to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) not being followed. The August 2009 collision of the missile corvette INS Kuthar with destroyer INS Ranvir in the Bay of Bengal was traced to a rudder failure, compounded by a flawed manoeuvre. In 2010, three crew men on destroyer INS Mumbai were instantly killed when an AK-630 Gatling gun went off as safety drills were not followed. The submarine INS Sindhughosh collided twice; once with a fishing boat in 2006 and once with a merchant vessel in 2007. "The Navy has put in place multiple, institutionalised methods and procedures towards enhancing safety," a naval spokesperson said, responding to a questionnaire. "Each type of unit has a Safety Class Authority that oversees safety aspects and guides safety related policy. On completion of major repairs, all units undergo a safety audit, prior to joining respective formations."<br><br>"The problem is that we aren't empowering our young officers," admits a senior naval officer, echoing what the US navy blogger said. Experience levels have suffered as there is a mismatch between number of warships and officers. Each year, 60 captain-ranked officers vie for the command of 15-20 warships. "A decade ago, a captain got two 18-month-long sea tenures, allowing him to build up experience; today he gets only one," says a naval officer.<br><br>In 2006, then defence minister Pranab Mukherjee pulled the Navy brass up after a spate of accidents. Accidents have however continued despite 'safety stand down' procedures performed on all warships every quarter, and court-martials. INS Sindhurakshak's tragic loss is an urgent wake-up call.<br><div id="tab-link-wrapper-plugin"><div class="authors__container"><div class="authors__by"><div class="authlable">Published By: </div><div class="authdetaisl">AtMigration </div></div><div class="published__on"><div class="authlable">Published On: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Nov 30, 1999 00:00 IST</div></div></div><div class="sendros">--- ENDS ---</div></div>

nation

Nation

In November 2011, the Indian Navy was particularly incensed with what a US naval lieutenant had posted on a blog. The unnamed lieutenant, who spent four days on destroyer INS Delhi in the Arabian Sea as part of an exchange programme, called the Indian crew "generally clueless", with "almost zero seamanship skills". It was a long, harsh critique of what he saw on the frontline warship. At the behest of the Indian Navy, the blog was removed soon after.<br><br>Did the blog touch a raw nerve? Just 10 months earlier, the naval frigate INS Vindhyagiri collided with a merchant tanker in Mumbai harbour and sank. It was the fourth time a warship was completely written off in 23 years. Since 1990, the Indian Navy has lost one warship in peacetime every five years. Since 2004, it has lost one naval combatant every two years. Few global navies have such a dubious record.<br><br><div class="itg-mosimage"><div class="itgimage"><img  title=""  class="" alt="" src="https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/sites/media2/indiatoday/images/stories/2013aug/ins_082413013026.jpg" loading="lazy" /></div></div>Five days after the August 14 explosion destroyed INS Sindhurakshak, killing 18 crew members, Defence Minister A.K. Antony told Rajya Sabha that "preliminary probe indicated the blast was due to possible ignition of armament". Armed with torpedoes and missiles, the submarine was fully fuelled and ready to sail for patrol early next morning.<br><br>Former southern naval commander Vice Admiral K.N. Sushil (retired) says it is too early to conclude it sank due to negligence. Evidence points to a blast in an oxygen-fuelled torpedo, he says. "The Navy must do a forensic examination to pinpoint the cause," he adds.<br><br>What is worrying is that with each warship loss, key maritime capabilities are being lost. Sindhurakshak had returned from Russia four months ago, and after a two-and-a-half year refit, was the Navy's most potent conventional submarine. The frigate INS Vindhyagiri was the only warship that could control spy drones far out at sea.<br><br>Peacetime losses of warships are not uncommon. Since the World War II, the US Navy has lost 16 warships in accidents. Russia's nuclear submarine Kursk sank in August 2000 after a faulty torpedo exploded during a training exercise. But in case of the smaller Indian Navy-it only has 30 frontline warships and 14 submarines-they point to a far disturbing trend, of human rather than technical error. Prahar and Vindhyagiri collided with lumbering merchant vessels. INS Agray was cut into half in 2004 when a crew member tossed a misfired anti-submarine rocket overboard.<br><br>The spate of accidents comes at a time when the fleet is expanding in both size and complexity. Last year, the Navy acquired INS Chakra, its first nuclear-powered attack submarine, from Russia. It is set to induct its largest ship, the 44,000-tonne aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, from Russia this year. Former eastern naval commander Vice Admiral A.K. Singh (retired) slams the Government's apathy. "The Navy is using vessels long past their service years of 25 and 30 years as the Government doesn't sanction new ones in time," he says.<br><br>Ageing ships alone do not explain other accidents and collisions. Naval officials say there are a series of smaller mishaps that point to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) not being followed. The August 2009 collision of the missile corvette INS Kuthar with destroyer INS Ranvir in the Bay of Bengal was traced to a rudder failure, compounded by a flawed manoeuvre. In 2010, three crew men on destroyer INS Mumbai were instantly killed when an AK-630 Gatling gun went off as safety drills were not followed. The submarine INS Sindhughosh collided twice; once with a fishing boat in 2006 and once with a merchant vessel in 2007. "The Navy has put in place multiple, institutionalised methods and procedures towards enhancing safety," a naval spokesperson said, responding to a questionnaire. "Each type of unit has a Safety Class Authority that oversees safety aspects and guides safety related policy. On completion of major repairs, all units undergo a safety audit, prior to joining respective formations."<br><br>"The problem is that we aren't empowering our young officers," admits a senior naval officer, echoing what the US navy blogger said. Experience levels have suffered as there is a mismatch between number of warships and officers. Each year, 60 captain-ranked officers vie for the command of 15-20 warships. "A decade ago, a captain got two 18-month-long sea tenures, allowing him to build up experience; today he gets only one," says a naval officer.<br><br>In 2006, then defence minister Pranab Mukherjee pulled the Navy brass up after a spate of accidents. Accidents have however continued despite 'safety stand down' procedures performed on all warships every quarter, and court-martials. INS Sindhurakshak's tragic loss is an urgent wake-up call.<br><div id="tab-link-wrapper-plugin"><div class="authors__container"><div class="authors__by"><div class="authlable">Published By: </div><div class="authdetaisl">AtMigration </div></div><div class="published__on"><div class="authlable">Published On: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Nov 30, 1999 00:00 IST</div></div></div><div class="sendros">--- ENDS ---</div></div>

Did the blog touch a raw nerve? Just 10 months earlier, the naval frigate INS Vindhyagiri collided with a merchant tanker in Mumbai harbour and sank.

Missile Corvette INS Kuthar (Right) collides with destroyer INS Ranvir in the Bay of Bengal in August 2009.

India Today

INS Sindhurakshak destruction underlines a growing trend of naval warship losses, primarily due to human error.

Mayday - India Today

Mayday: INS Sindhurakshak's destruction underlines a growing trend of naval warship losses, primarily due to human error

Mayday

BAN vs PAK, 1st Test: Mohammad Abbas starred with a five-wicket haul before debutant Azan Awais struck an unbeaten 85 as Pakistan mounted a spirited fightback on Day 2 of the opening Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur.

Mohammad Abbas

Mohammad Abbas, Azan Awais lead Pakistan’s fightback in Mirpur Test

An Indian creator travelled to Japan and filmed a house and lanes that he said resembled Nobita’s world in Doraemon. The Instagram clip triggered a wave of nostalgia, with viewers calling it emotional, dreamlike and bucket-list worthy.

Indian man travels to Japan to see real-life Doraemon house, the nostalgia is real

Indian man travels to Japan to see real-life Doraemon house, the nostalgia is real (Photos: @sarthaksachdevva/Instagram)

Apple is reportedly testing new AI-powered AirPods with built-in cameras that could help Siri understand users’ surroundings. Here’s how they may work and how they could differ from Meta smart glasses.

airpods

How Apple AirPods with camera may differ from Meta AI glasses, details here

Abhinav Anand, 19, says he built ArcleIntelligence while studying in Bihar and training it with his own savings. His account has drawn attention to independent AI development emerging beyond formal labs in India.

Multimodal AI

19-year-old from Bihar uses money saved for laptop to build multimodal AI model

Ranveer Singh was seen meeting fans in South Africa while Deepika Padukone filmed King with SRK. The sightings drew attention days after a video showed him with daughter Dua on set.

Ranveer Singh with fans on King sets in South Africa

Ranveer Singh

Ranveer Singh clicks selfies with fans on King set in South Africa, pics go viral

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The political landscape of West Bengal witnesses a major transition as the newly appointed Chief Minister takes the oath of office and secrecy.

New West Bengal Chief Minister Takes Oath

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hugged and honoured 98-year-old Makhanlal Sarkar, one of the earliest and senior most members of the BJP. The scene unfolded on the stage ahead of Suvendu Adhikari's swearing-in as West Bengal's Chief Minister in Kolkata. PM Modi also touched Sarkar's feet and presented a shawl to him as a mark of respect. In 1952, Sarkar was arrested in Kashmir while he was accompanying Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee as the latter was marching to hoist the tricolour there. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya described the elderly party leader as "one of the earliest grassroots figures associated with the nationalist movement in post-Independence India."

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Yogi Adityanath on Saturday presented a saffron gamcha to Suvendu Adhikari, shortly after the latter took oath as the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal. The crowd also erupted into a loud cheer as the scene unfolded at the swearing-in ceremony in Kolkata. This was at least the second such instance in recent weeks when the duo's bonhomie was witnessed publicly. Earlier, during the election campaign in the state, a powerful scene was witnessed when Adhikari bowed down at the feet of the UP Chief Minister as a mark of respect.

Video: Yogi Adityanath gifts saffron gamcha to Suvendu Adhikari at his oath-taking

A speeding black Thar hit a biker in Jaipur when he was crossing the road. The impact of the accident was such that the 27-yeasr-old biker was flung into the air.

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Mayday: INS Sindhurakshak's destruction underlines a growing trend of naval warship losses, primarily due to human error

Did the blog touch a raw nerve? Just 10 months earlier, the naval frigate INS Vindhyagiri collided with a merchant tanker in Mumbai harbour and sank.

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