Navy sets up high-level probe in submarine mishap

The Indian Navy has constituted a high-level inquiry headed by an officer of the rank of Rear Admiral to look into the recent cases of submarine mishaps.

Seven sailors had taken seriously ill and two officers have gone missing following the mishap in submarine INS Sindhuratna, off the Mumbai coast, on Wednesday.

"A high-level inquiry headed by an officer of Rear Admiral-rank has been constituted and has immediately commenced its proceedings to establish the cause of all (submarine) incidents and to recommend steps for continuing safe operations of submarines," a statement by the Western Naval Command said on Thursday.

The release also said that submarine INS Sindhuratna has returned to the Mumbai harbour.

INS Sindhuratna was at sea off Mumbai for routine training and inspection in the early hours of Wednesday when smoke was reported in the sailors' accommodation of the submarine.

Smoke engulfed the Russian-made submarine and the seven affected sailors had to be airlifted to the naval hospital INS Ashwini. Their condition is reported to be stable.

Hours after the mishap and in the wake of a spate of accidents involving the naval warships in the recent past, navy chief Admiral D K Joshi had on Wednesday resigned, taking moral responsibility.

The incident was the 10th mishap involving Navy warships in the last seven months.

Image: A man watches navy submarine INS Sindhurakshak on fire in Mumbai ' Photograph: Reuters