Bodies of three sailors of diesel-electric submarine INS Sindhurakshak have been found by the Indian Navy’s divers on board the severely damaged submarine, Reuters reported citing a statement of the Indian Navy.
The Navy further added that it was unlikely that any of the remaining fifteen sailors would be found alive.
The rescue efforts of the Navy divers continue despite being hindered by poor visibility, narrow spaces of the submarine’s internal steel compartments filled with water that deformed having melted from within amid the explosion.
Divers of the Indian Navy entered INS Sindhurakshak yesterday having managed to cut open the hatch covers of the ill-fated submarine that sank after twin blasts, caused by an explosion shortly after midnight on 14 August 2013.
The cause of the explosion remains to be unveiled.
The unfortunate incident comes in the aftermath of India’s efforts aimed at boosting its domestic naval capabilities, especially shipbuilding industry, which took a giant leap forward with the launching of INS Vikrant, India’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC).
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, August 16, 2013