Step 1: Understanding the Question:
We need to find the grammatical error in the given sentence regarding an Indian ship sinking in the ocean.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate the sentence for semantic and grammatical correctness.
In part (2), there is technically a missing preposition in the phrase "laden merchandise". The correct idiomatic phrase should be "laden with merchandise", meaning the ship was heavily loaded with goods.
However, an even more significant and commonly tested conceptual error lies in the verb phrase "got drowned" used in part (3).
In standard English grammar and usage, there is a strict semantic distinction between the verbs "drown" and "sink".
The verb "drown" is used exclusively for living beings (humans or animals) that die by suffocating underwater.
For example: "The poor dog almost drowned in the fast-flowing river."
The verb "sink" is used for inanimate objects (like ships, stones, or vehicles) that go below the surface of the water.
Therefore, a ship cannot physically "drown"; it "sinks".
The correct phrasing for part (3) should be "sank".
Because the misuse of "drown" vs. "sink" is a fundamental vocabulary rule frequently tested in competitive exams as the primary intended error, part (3) is the definitive answer.