Three dead in blast on Indian warship

File Photo shows an Indian Naval ship (INS) Kolkata berths at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, India. Photo: Xinhua

Three Indian naval personnel were killed in an explosion on one of the country's oldest destroyers at a naval dockyard in Mumbai, authorities said.

The blast occurred Tuesday in an internal compartment on the Soviet-built INS Ranvir, commissioned in 1986, while it was at the Naval Dockyard in the western city of Mumbai, according to the Indian Navy.

"In an unfortunate incident today at Naval Dockyard Mumbai, three naval personnel succumbed to injuries caused by an explosion in an internal compartment onboard INS Ranvir," a statement from the Indian Navy read.

"[A] board of inquiry has been ordered to investigate into the cause," according to the  statement.

Broadcaster NDTV quoted sources saying the explosion did not involve weapons or ammunition.

Media reports said 11 people were also injured and were being treated at a navy hospital. 

In a statement, the Indian Navy said it extends condolences to the families of Master Chief Petty Officer 1 (MCPO) Krishan Kumar, Surinder Kumar MCPO II and AK Singh MCPO II, who died due to injuries caused by the unfortunate incident onboard INS Ranvir. "We fully stand by with the families in this difficult time." 

The Indian government is in the middle of a huge modernization of its armed forces to replace old equipment, much of it Soviet vintage.

The warship has been on cross coast deployment from the Eastern Naval Command since November and was due to return to its home port shortly, the ministry's statement said.