Three Indian naval personnel were killed in an explosion on one of the country's oldest destroyers at a naval dockyard in Mumbai, authorities said.

The blast occurred Tuesday in an internal compartment on the Soviet-built INS Ranvir, commissioned in 1986, according to the Indian Navy.

"No material damage has been reported... (A) board of inquiry has been ordered to investigate into the cause," the navy said in a statement Tuesday.

Broadcaster NDTV quoted sources saying the explosion did not involve weapons or ammunition.

Media reports said 11 people were also injured and were being treated at a navy hospital.

The Indian government is in the middle of a huge modernisation of its armed forces to replace old equipment, much of it Soviet vintage.

INS Ranvir was on cross coast operational deployment from the Eastern Naval Command and was due to return to base port shortly. A board of inquiry has been ordered to investigate into the cause, Navy officials said.
This is not the first accident involving a Navy vessel in Mumbai. In August 2013, submarine INS Sindhurakshak sank following explosions caused by a fire while it was berthed at Mumbai. 18 sailors died in the accident.