Mumbai
Naval sources told dna that the likely cause of the accident was faulty batteries, which were being charged when the accident took place.
Saikat Datta/Vinamrata Borwankar
Updated : Nov 21, 2013, 01:44 PM IST
Latest on the story
The Indian Navy chief said Wednesday that sabotage was not ruled out behind the sinking of a submarine here following a huge explosion but it was highly unlikely.
"We cannot rule out sabotage," Admiral D.K. Joshi told the media, giving details about the sinking of INS Sindhurakshak. "But indications at this point do not support the (sabotage) theory."
"While we can hope for the best, we have to prepare for the worst," said the Navy chief on fate of 18 missing officers and sailors onboard Sindhurakshak submarine.
Adm Joshi: Regrettably there is no communication with anyone inside the submarine. #INSSindhurakshak
— Saikat Datta (@saikatd) August 14, 2013
Adm Joshi:Two of the officers and six of the sailors were married.While we hope we also have to be prepared for the worst #INSSindhurakshak
— Saikat Datta (@saikatd) August 14, 2013
Adm Joshi: Once we have opened the boat we will try and reach the watertight compartments to see what we can do. #INSSindhurakshak
— Saikat Datta (@saikatd) August 14, 2013
Adm Joshi: The current state is that our divers have managed to access the boat by opening the main hatch on the main cone #INSSindhurakshak
— Saikat Datta (@saikatd) August 14, 2013
In one of the worst tragedies in the history of Indian Navy, an explosion on board conventionally powered submarine INS Sindhurakshak killed several sailors and damaged another submarine INS Sindhuratna on Wednesday.
A few minutes past midnight on Wednesday, a blast ripped through the Kilo class submarine INS Sindhurakshak, which was docked at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
According to TV reports, the submarine, which had 18 sailors on board, has submerged with only a portion of it visible. Rescuers are unable to enter the submarine as its hatches are crumpled.
Most of the crew is feared dead.
INS Sindhurakshak was fully armed at the time of the accident. As a result, when the fire spread to the forward portion, which contains the torpedoes, it set off several devastating explosions, which hit another submarine INS Sindhuratna.
However, damage to INS Sindhuratna is minor as per reports. Both submarines were Kilo class and were upgraded recently.
Naval sources told dna that the likely cause of the accident was faulty batteries, which were being charged when the accident took place.
Hydrogen could have leaked out of the batteries leading to a dangerous build-up causing the blast.
INS Sindhurakshak doesn't have a submersible escape pod that can help the 18 trapped sailors to reach the surface. Having taken a lot of water after the blast, the submarine is reported to have sunk with the men on board.
A naval Board of Inquiry has been constituted to look into the matter.
Around 16 fire engines along with water tankers, rescue vehicles, ambulances have been rushed to the spot.
"The rescue work is in progress, however the cause of fire is still unknown,"said Narendra Vispute, PRO, Ministry of Defence.
"The locals have told us that many people are trapped inside," said a fire official from the control room.
"There are some people who are trapped on board, we are in the process of trying to rescue them, we suspect it to be in the range of 18," said Navy spokesman PVS Satish.
"We will not give up until we get to them," Satish said. The explosion inside the INS Sindhurakshak was likely an accident, Satish said. Photos distributed by social media users appeared to show a large fireball over the navy dock where the diesel-electric submarine was berthed.
INS Sindhurakshak was upgraded at a Russian shipyard last year, according to Russian media.
The apparent accident comes in the same week as India launched a locally refitted aircraft carrier due for completion in 2017, and announced that the reactor on its first home-built nuclear submarine was now operational.
Sources said that the injured were being taken to INHS Ashwini for treatment and no casualties were reported yet.
INS Sindhurakshak was not on active duty at the time of the accident, Navy sources said.
The incident has come at a time when the Navy is facing a situation of depleting submarine fleet.
The INS Sindhurakshak was commissioned in December 1997 under Commander Vithal Peshwe in Mumbai. It is one of the 10 Kilo class submarines purchased from Russia in the 80s.
Eight out of the 10 Kilo class submarines have been upgraded with weaponry, sonars, etc., to make them fit to serve for a few more decades.
With the refit it can also carry the modern Russian Klub class missiles and is also being prepared to carry the Brahmos cruise missile.
INS Sindhurakshak is a conventional diesel submarine that needs to surface every day to recharge its batteries. It has a displacement of 3,000 tonnes and a maximum diving depth of 300 metres.
In the last few years, there have been several mishaps involving naval vessels. In 2008, another vessel of the Kilo class, INS Sindhugosh, collided with a merchant vessel off Mumbai while participating in a naval exercise.
A similar accident had taken place on board INS Sindhurakshak on February 26, 2010, in which a sailor was killed. The submarine was berthed in Vizag when the accident took place.
In 2011, a surface warship INS Vindhyagiri caught fire when it collided with a merchant vessel near the Mumbai harbour while returning from a picnic with families of group of officers deployed on board.
On its way back, it hit another ship leaving the harbour.
Nobody was injured but the warship was virtually ruined.
Navy chief visits dockyard to take stock of the situation
Navy chief Admiral DK Joshi has arrived at the naval dockyard in Mumbai where an explosion rocked an Indian Navy submarine that caught fire, informed sources said.
Earlier, a navy spokesman confirmed that a incident of fire was reported "in one of the Indian naval unit in naval dockyard Mumbai".
Must Read: How Mumbai fire officer helped prevent another naval disaster
Also read: AK Antony condoles death of naval personnel in submarine mishap
Twitter was agog with people expressing themselves. Here are what the twitteratti had to say:
The tragic incident on INS Sindhurakshak is saddening. Prayers with the affected Navy personnel & their families.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 14, 2013
Hope the Defence Minister & the Navy give us a clear update on the Sindhurakshak.Our hearts go out to the families of the trapped sailors.
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) August 14, 2013
Very sad to know the tragedy of INS Sindhurakshak. I condole the persons who sacrificed their life for the nation.
— sanchita Singh (@SanchitaSingh99) August 14, 2013
RT @narendramodi: The tragic incident on INS Sindhurakshak is saddening. Prayers with the affected Navy personnel & their families.RFM.@
— rajender talreja (@rajendertalreja) August 14, 2013
INS Sindhurakshak mishap is a big loss to Nation...!!
— Vikram Kanwar (@kanwar_vikram) August 14, 2013
RIP Navy Men. Sad your valuable lives were lost in #Sindhurakshak disaster.
— Nandan (@gaurinandan) August 14, 2013
The tragic incident on INS Sindhurakshak is saddening. Prayers with the affected Navy personnel & their families.
— Ravi Rungta (@RaviRungta) August 14, 2013
Over 12 hours since #INS Sindhurakshak explosion, no official word yet from Navy on cause & casualties. Delay adds to speculation.
— Manish Kalghatgi (@manishkalghatgi) August 14, 2013
Tragic “@manupubby: Explosion on Sindhurakshak submarine is the worst loss of lives for the navy since the sinking of the Khukri in 1971.”
— Amrita Dhindsa (@AmritaDhindsa) August 14, 2013
Only this year 490 crore ws spent on repair of INS SindhuRakshak.Feeling sorrowful fr such a drastic end,specially for those 18 bravehearts
— Abhinav Shankar (@AbhinavShankar1) August 14, 2013
With Agency Inputs