Russia condoles death of sailors in INS Sindhurakshak

New Delhi, Aug 16: Russian President Vladimir Putin has condoled the death of Indian Navymen in the explosion in and sinking of submarine INS Sindhurakshak.

In identical letters to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Putin said "accept my sincere condolences in connection with the tragic death of Indian seamen caused by the explosion in the submarine Sindhurakshak".

He conveyed "deep sympathy" to the relatives and dear ones of the sailors who died.

A series of explosions had rocked INS Sindhurakshak at the dockyard in Mumbai on Tuesday night, sinking the vessel in which 18 personnel including three officers are feared killed.

The diesel-electric submarine had recently come back from Russia after a Rs 450-crore extensive upgrade in that country.

PTI