M A I N   N E W S

Explosions sink sub off Mumbai; 18 dead
Ordnance fire engulfs INS Sindhurakshak in midnight tragedy
Inquiry report in 4 weeks
Shiv Kumar/TNS

Mumbai, August 14
Eighteen crew members, including three officers, on board submarine INS Sindhurakshak were feared dead after three explosions rocked the vessel causing it to sink off Mumbai harbour shortly after midnight today.

Naval Chief Admiral DK Joshi said three explosions were heard from the submarine before it sank in the shallow waters. A small explosion was followed by two massive blasts that sparked a major fire.

The Admiral said the ordnance on board the submarine might have exploded, adding that the extent of damage could be ascertained only after the salvage operations were over.

The submarine had explosives, fuel, oxygen and batteries that could have played a part in the explosion, he said. The explosion caused the submarine to sink nose first where it was berthed at the Mumbai dockyard.

INS Sindhurakshak

The Navy Chief said the possibility of sabotage would be among the points that would be investigated by a Board of Inquiry (BoI). “Indications so far do not support such a theory,” he said. The BoI will submit its report in four weeks.

Earlier in the day, Admiral Joshi who accompanied Defence Minister AK Antony said divers were trying to establish contact with the crew members trapped inside the stricken submarine.

“While we can hope for the best, we have to be prepared for the worst,” the Navy Chief said.

He said rescuers were hoping against hope that the crew members could be breathing air trapped in different pockets in the submarine.

Official sources later said all crew members seemed to have perished in the mishap.

Three crew members had a narrow escape as they jumped off the submarine when the explosions occurred. The naval authorities were waiting to question them. “They are in a state of shock and in no position to answer questions,” the Admiral said. Shortly after the explosions lit up the South Mumbai sky a little after midnight, fire tenders from the Navy and the Mumbai Fire Brigade arrived at the scene to put out the blaze. Fire officials said it took several hours to douse the fire.