An auxiliary ship belonging to the Indian Navy sank off of the east coast of India on Thursday, killing at least one sailor and leaving four still missing.
According to media reports, the Torpedo Recovery Vessel A-72 sank at approximately 8 p.m. Thursday off the coast of Visakhapatnam during a routine torpedo recovery exercise. Of the 28 sailors onboard the vessel, 23 were rescued by another Navy ship in the area, while one sailor is reported dead and another 4 are still missing.
Reports indicate that the vessel was heading back to Visakhapatnam when it began taking on water through its steering gear compartment. Other Navy ship’s in the vicinity provided assistance in transferring the 23 sailors to safety.
A search and rescue for those missing is underway.
Built in 1983, the 110-ton ‘A-72? was part of the Indian Navy’s Astravahini-class of Torpedo Recovery Vessels.
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