A naval ship sank Thursday off the southeastern coast of India leaving one worker dead and four others missing, reports said, in the latest of a string of deadly mishaps to hit the navy.

Rescue operations were underway after the vessel flooded during a naval exercise late Thursday off the southeast coastal city of Visakhapatnam.

"The vessel was on a routine mission to recover torpedoes fired by fleet ships during a routine exercise, when it experienced flooding in one of its compartments," the Navy said in a statement, according to the Press Trust of India.

"One sailor has lost his life during the rescue operation and four personnel are reported missing. Twenty-three personnel have been rescued safely."

The accident comes after a fire aboard a nuclear submarine killed two officers off the Mumbai coast in February this year which led to the immediate resignation of the Indian Navy chief.

Various other naval accidents in recent times include a submarine running aground in Mumbai's harbour, fires on a minesweeping vessel and an aircraft carrier, and a collision between a frigate and a fishing boat.

In one of the deadliest incidents, INS Sindhurakshak burst into flames in Mumbai harbour in August last year, killing 18 sailors and sinking the vessel.