Five sailors were killed and three injured in an accident on the Indian Navy's newly-acquired troop carrier INS Jalashwa during an exercise in the Bay of Bengal on Friday evening.
<b1>The vessel, the former USS Trenton that was inducted into the Indian Navy last September, is now
heading for Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where the victims and the injured would be brought ashore, an official statement said.
"The Indian Navy regrets to inform the occurrence of an accident on board INS Jalshawa on the evening of Feb 1 while the ship was at sea, engaged in exercise with the fleet units between Visakhapatnam and Port Blair," the statement said.
"While the cause of the accident and other details are being ascertained, we can confirm with deep sorrow that five sailors lost their lives and three personnel are injured," the statement said.
"Medical resources within the fleet have been concentrated to treat the injured. The ship is proceeding to Port Blair, where the deceased and injured personnel would be brought ashore.
"Relevant additional details would be made available on receipt. A board of inquiry has been constituted," the statement added.
Defence Minister AK Antony has expressed his deep regret at the loss of lives, the statement said.