INS SINDHURAKSHAK CATCHES FIRE FOLLOWING EXPLOSIONS AND SINKS IN DOCKYARD WITH 18 SAILORS ONBOARD

Mumbai:In a huge setback to the Indian Navy, one of India’s most advanced diesel-electric submarine, INS Sindhurakshak, caught fire following two massive explosions and sank in the dockyard in Mumbai early on Wednesday morning. While there has been no contact with the 18 trapped submariners since the explosions and fire, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral DK Joshi said that he hoped for the best but added that all submarine accidents are “catastrophic”.

Admiral DK Joshi said on Wednesday that the reason for the explosions have not been ascertained as yet. “The vessel flooded after a hole was ripped out in the vessel. We are trying to take out water from the vessel and bring it out so that we can examine the vessel. We have set up a board of enquiry to find out what went wrong,” the Navy chief said.

While not ruling out the possibility of a sabotage that has led to the incident, the Navy chief said that the board of enquiry will find out if what went wrong. Though he maintained that looking at the prima facie evidence, the indicators do not support the sabotage theory.

He also said that he cannot ascertain the time by when they can pull out the vessel because of low visibility in the water. “Despite all efforts and resources available we cannot say anything because the water is muddy and there is no visibility inside,” he said.