Sindhurakshak: 48 hours gone, rescue workers unable to enter vessel

Mumbai, Aug 16: The chances of survival of 18 crew members on the ill-fated Sindhurakshak is grimmer as rescue workers have yet not been able to enter the submarine.

According to the Navy, operations have been hindered as a large amount of muddy water has entered the vessel, blocking the view. Moreover, the submarine has melted in many parts due to the explosion, which makes it even more inaccessible. To add to the woes of the navy divers, none of them are skilled welders or cutters and are not trained for this kind of a rescue operation.

Nevertheless, the rescue work is still on, despite problems arising due to tidal changes too. The rescuers managed to enter the submarine from the top by cutting open a portion of it, only to find their entry blocked. They then tried to enter it from the tail, only to fail again. Subsequent efforts have been made to re-float the vessel, but the lack of ballast equipment proved to be an obstacle.

INS Sindhurakshak sunk with 18 crew members in the wee hours of Wednesday after an explosion and subsequent fire. Experts believe that the blast was triggered by torpedoes that got triggered due to Hydrogen gas leak from the battery chamber.

Explosion takes place at the INS Sindhurakshak

An explosion takes place at the INS Sindhurakshak in Mumbai on early Wednesday morning.

In Mumbai

Defence Minister A K Antony with Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Navy Chief D K Joshi visiting the naval dockyard following the INS Sindhurakshak submarine mishap, in Mumbai.

In New Delhi

(TV GRAB) An explosion takes place at the INS Sindhurakshak in Mumbai on early Wednesday morning.

INS Sindhurakshak

INS Sindhurakshak.

In Mumbai

Navy Chief Admiral D K Joshi during a press conference following the INS Sindhurakshak submarine mishap in Mumbai.

A press conference following the INS Sindhurakshak submarine mishap

Defence Minster A K Antony with Maharashtra Chief Minster Prithviraj Chavan and Navy Chief D K Joshi addressing a press conference following the INS Sindhurakshak submarine mishap, in Mumbai.

A view of Naval Dockyard

A view of Naval Dockyard where INS Sindhurakshak submarine sunk after an explosion, in Mumbai.

In Mumbai

File photo showing the sailors, on board a submarine, perform a drill during the President's fleet review in Mumbai in 2011. An explosion and a major fire broke out at INS Sindhurakshak submarine on Wednesday morning.

In Mumbai

A view of the naval dockyard in Mumbai where an explosion and a major fire broke out at the INS Sindhurakshak, a submarine, on Wednesday.

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