INS Sindhurakshak sinks after blaze, Navy 'hopes the best' for 18 sailors on submarine.
Defence minister AK Antony said crew members inside INS Sindhurakshak had died. “I am saddened at the loss of life of naval personnel in the service of the country,” said Antony. He gave no details.
Among the 18 trapped submariners are three officers. Those injured because of the explosion were taken to INHS Ashwini hospital where they are undergoing treatment.
“There are some people who are trapped on board, we are in the process of trying to rescue them,” said navy spokesman PVS Satish. “We will not give up until we get to them.”
Navy chief Admiral D K Joshi, late afternoon, said he couldn't confirm the fate of the sailors. "We hope for the best but are prepared for the worst," he told a press conference in Mumbai.
Fire tenders from the dockyard as well as Mumbai, along with a team of naval experts, are carrying out rescue operations.
INS Sindhurakshak was 15 to 20 metres away from the jetty in the sea when the incident took place.
A naval release said due to as yet unknown damage suffered as a result of the explosion, the submarine has submerged at her berth with only a portion visible above the surface.
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