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INDIA’S NAVY SAYS all 18 sailors on board a submarine which exploded and sank today are feared dead, and admitted the incident had left a “dent” in the country’s defences.
The fully-armed INS Sindhurakshak, returned by original manufacturer Russia earlier this year after a major refit, exploded in flames in Mumbai shortly after 12am local time and sank in a military shipyard.
The disaster is thought to be the Indian navy’s worst since the sinking of a frigate by a Pakistani submarine in 1971. Defence Minister A.K. Antony described the explosion as the “greatest tragedy in recent time”.
“I feel sad about those navy personnel who have lost their lives in service of the country,” he told reporters in New Delhi.
Chief of naval staff D.K. Joshi said no sign of life had been detected on board even after divers managed to enter through the main hatch in a bid to refloat the vessel.
“While we hope for the best, we have to prepare for the worst,” he told reporters in Mumbai, adding that there was a possibility some crew might have found air pockets but “the indicators are negative”.
“It is certainly a dent on Indian navy’s submarine capabilities for the time being,” he added.
File photo of the INS Sindhurakshak (Wikimedia Commons)
The blast came days after New Delhi trumpeted the launch of its first domestically-produced aircraft carrier and the start of sea trials for its first Indian-made nuclear submarine.
The world’s biggest democracy has been expanding its armed forces rapidly to upgrade its mostly Soviet-era weaponry and respond to what is perceived as a growing threat from regional rival China.
Amateur video footage showed a fireball in the forward section of the Sindhurakshak, where torpedoes and missiles are stored as well as the battery units.
“There were two to three explosions and the night sky lit up briefly,” eyewitness Dharmendra Jaiswal said.
Joshi said there had been an initial fire which appeared to have sparked a big explosion as weaponry ignited.
“The basic question is what caused the fire and explosion. We do not have an answer to that question as of now,” he said.
A board of enquiry would probe all possible explanations including sabotage, but “the indicators at this point of time do not support that theory”, he said.
Ambulance and rescue workers on the quayside (Image: Rafiq Maqbool/AP/Press Association Images)
The submarine was built in 1997 in Saint Petersburg and had completed 1,000 dive hours since returning after its refurbishment.
Rahul Bedi, a defence expert with IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly, told AFP the 16-year-old submarine lacked some safety features common to newer vessels even after its $80 million overhaul.
“They don’t have escape routes in the event of accidents, unlike some of the modern submarines,” he said.
The Indian navy has 14 submarines, but only between seven and nine are operational at any one time because of regular repair and refitting operations.
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Met Nicki in St Camillons nursing home
In Killucan, Co.Westmeath 3 years ago
she was visiting an uncle, she came over to my dad had a word, gave him a hug, i thought it was lovely as she did not know us, proves her heart was in the right place, and now all three have passed on, rip guys x
Nicky was an inspiration for us all! RIP
My Dad’s Dad died from motor neurone and so did my Mums Mum a horrid disease to get Rest in peace Grandma and Grandad. Rest in peace to your beautiful sister so sorry she had this xx
If there is any good news here is that Nicky McFaddens illness was not drawn out for years.
Very sad but the comment about cancer is very insensitive. Cancer can be horrific as well as motor neurone. Wouldn’t wish for either
The only i came in here was gor that statement. Cancer is a horrible leech of a thing to go through .
Cancer is certainly a leech and not something any sane person would wish for; however there is hope if you have cancer as treatment and operations may stop or halt the disease, but there is NO cure or long term hope for people with MND.
I am sorry for your loss. But Fine Gael are finished. This country needs a government who will stand on its own two feet and not take orders from bankers and the like. New fresh blood is what’s needed a party that is not tainted by greed and the clic. Again I am sorry for your loss. You would do better as an independent
David what a hideous person you are! Imagine employing someone with your mentality! It does not matter who you vote for this story is about human suffering and tragedy!
There is never a scenario where people would be “grateful to have cancer”. Walk into a hospice and say ” ye should be grateful, at least ye don’t have MND”???? It’s an awful and horrible statement to make.
Eimsley, in the nicest way possible I’m sorry to say you are wrong. I attend the hospice weekly & I assure you the cancer patients look at me with pity, in my wheelchair barely able to move a muscle. I was 38 when diagnosed with mnd & I’m “lucky” to be alive still, 2 1/2 yrs later. When I was first diagnosed I wished I had been given a cancer diagnoses. I know that sounds unbelievable but, cancer treatments & medicines have advanced so much now there is “hope” for patients. MND on the other hand = no hope, they are not even near finding a cure!
Sharon, sorry to hear this. I have a close family member with untreatable cancer so I’m really offended by the quote in this article. I’m not dismissing the gravity of MND in any way. I just believe that these things should never be compared in terms of suffering e.g. Diminish one groups suffering over another’s. Having been witness to oneupmanship over illness symptoms/outcomes (not by patients but their families) I’m horrified to witness it in the press. I detest the culture of ‘mine’s worse than yours’ that seems to exist for some (not all) people’s lives. Each persons suffering is their own and not for comment by others. There is after all a lot of focus on upholding the dignity of terminally ill patients. All the best and take care.
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