India's tryst with INS mishaps: Here's a grand glimpse of INS Vikramaditya

In the past few months starting August 2013, India has witnessed numerous accidents involving naval ships. Many lives have been lost and the ex-defence minister AK Antony has received flak for faulty maintainence of these defence vehicles. 

With a new cabinet in place and Arun Jaitley leading the way for defence sector, there is anticipation to witness a new direction in overhauling the entire defence system. From maintainence to security measures, Indian defence sector needs better infrastructure and newer technologies. 

Explaining his stance on the increase in number of accidents, Captain Navdeep Singh, Lawyer and member of Indian Territorial army had told dna, "The most apparent reason seems the lack of expertise in the decision making process. The military is not a part of the decision making process in India, and in fact the ‘Rules of Business’ of the Govt of India tacitly state that the defence secretary shall be responsible for the defence of India. In fact, the defence establishment needs something like a Defence Board, akin to the Railway Board as is in place in the Ministry of Railways, where the military and all other stakeholders should have a say in the decision making process related to the defence of the country". 

Headlines Today deputy editor Shiv Aroor's award winning blog LiveFist features some of the most accurate and timely news on defence sector. Below is a video on INS Vikramaditya—Its acquisition, features and some interesting insights. 

INS Vikramaditya is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier which entered into service with the Indian Navy in 2013. The ship has been renamed in honour of Vikramaditya, a legendary 1st century BC emperor of Ujjain, India.

Watch the video below: 

Read: INS Matanga catches fire at naval dockyard; a look at spate of accidents involving Indian Naval ships

There have been 12 accidents invoving Indian Navy ships and submarines since last August. While most of the accidents did not claim any lives, 21 officers and sailors have died in three mishaps.

* INS Sindhurakshak (August 14, 2013) - Eighteen crew members on board - three officers and 15 sailors - were killed when blasts ripped through the torpedo compartment of the INS Sindhurakshak while the submarine was berthed in Mumbai harbour.

* INS Viraat (September 2013) - Fire broke out near the officer's mess of the aircraftcarrier off the Mumbai coast. No casualties were reported.

* INS Konkan (December 4, 2013) - A minesweeper of the Eastern Naval Command, the vessel caught fire at the naval dockyard at Visakhapatnam while undergoing repairs. The fire engulfed much of the ship's interiors before it doused. No deaths were reported.

* INS Talwar (December 23, 2013) - A fishing trawler sank after colliding with the frontline frigate near Ratnagiri district, injuring four of the 27 people aboard the trawler. The trawler was operating without lights. There were no causalties onboard the ship.

* INS Tarkash (December 2013) - A stealth frigate which conducted several overseas missions, INS Tarkash suffered damage to its hull when it hit the jetty while docking at the Mumbai. There were no casualties.

* INS Betwa (January 22, 2014) - The indigenously built frigate ran aground and collided with an unidentified object while approaching the Mumbai harbour. The frigate's sonar system was found to be cracked, leading to faulty readings and ingress of saltwater into sensitive equipment.

* INS Vipul (January 2014) - Deployed with the elite 22nd Killer Missile Vessel Squadron, a hole was detected in a compartment, forced it back into the harbour while it was on an operational mission. It had to be sent for repairs.

* INS Sindhughosh (January 2014) - The leading ship of her class of diesel-electric submarines, the Sindhughosh ran aground at the naval harbour in Mumbai. The submarine was re-floated and did not suffer much damage. At the time of the incident, it was fully armed, carrying its entire compliment of 70 personnel, all of whom were safe.

* INS Airavat (February 3, 2014) - Amphibious ship INS Airavat, the latest of the Shardul class of tank-landing ships, ran aground off the coast of Visakhapatnam. The propellers of the warship were permanently damaged and had to be replaced for the vessel to become operational again.

* INS Sindhuratna (February 26, 2014) - Two sailors died and seven members of the 94-strong crew were evacuated after inhaling smoke aboard the diesel-powered submarine following a fire. A board of inquiry in its preliminary report, said that fire in some cables led to the smoke in the third compartment.

* INS Kolkata (Yard 701) (March 7, 2014) - An officer was killed and a worker injured after inhaling carbon dioxide gas which leaked from a container in the advanced warship at Mumbai's Mazagon Dock Limited.