Indian submarine collides with fishing vessel off Goa coast

MUMBAI (AFP): An Indian Navy submarine collided with a fishing vessel with 13 crew members on board off the Goa coast, raising serious questions about the safety and operational reliability of India’s advanced submarine fleet.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the submarine Scorpene-class collided with fishing vessel Marthoma, approximately 70 nautical miles northwest of Goa.

Eleven crew members were rescued shortly after the incident, and search operations are ongoing for the remaining two missing members.

The collision occurred as the submarine was transiting along the west coast. The Indian Navy launched a search and rescue operation. Six ships and multiple aircraft were deployed initially to locate and rescue the fishing vessel’s crew.

The cause of the collision is currently under investigation. The Indian Navy has not disclosed further details regarding the condition of the missing crew members or the damage sustained by the vessels involved.

The incident has raised questions about the safety protocols and operational readiness of the Indian Navy’s state-of-the-art Scorpene-class submarines.