A seafarer has died in an explosion on an Indian-managed tanker that had stopped for repairs off Cochin.

Manager Elektrans Shipping said the 16,700-dwt Nu Shi Nalini (built 2012), owned by Arya Ship Charterers, was en route from Mundra to Colombo in Sri Lanka.

It headed instead to Cochin on 13 June to attend to technical repairs.

When it was safely anchored off Cochin port, a blast was reported in the engine room on the lower platform when machinery was started.