A huge explosion accompanied by a fire rocked an Indian Navy submarine docked in the high security Naval dockyard early Wednesday, officials said.
The blast followed by a fire occurred shortly after midnight on INS Sindhurakshak, a Kilo class submarine of the Indian Navy. Navy Chief Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi has arrived in Mumbai to take stock of the situation.
Eighteen personnel who were on board at the time of the incident are still feared to be trapped inside. A Board of Inquiry has been constituted to probe the incident.
“However, 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. About 18 persons were on board the submarine at the time of the accident and efforts are on to ascertain the safety of the personnel and salvage of the submarine,” a statement by the Indian Navy said.
Some injured sailors have been rushed to naval hospital INHS Ashvini in Colaba.
The cause of the explosion and blaze is still not known.