Hunt for survivors after Indian submarine explodes

Rescuers were today searching for survivors of a huge explosion and fire on an Indian submarine at a base near Mumbai.

Eighteen Indian sailors were on board the diesel-powered, Russian-built INS Sindhurakshak when the blast happened at about midnight.

Defence minister A K Antony said at least some had died but gave no details. Others managed to jump to safety.

Navy spokesman PVS Satish said: “There are some people who are trapped on board, we are in the process of trying to rescue them. We will not give up until we get to them.” Photos on social media showed a fireball over the navy dock where the submarine was berthed. Firefighters spent four hours trying to control the blaze.

Authorities believe the explosion was probably an accident, but an investigation is under way. The submarine had suffered a lethal blast in 2010, when a crew member died after an explosion in the battery compartment. It only returned to service six months ago.

Retired navy chief Arun Prakush said: “Lots of things are in very close proximity, there is fuel, there is hydrogen, there is oxygen, there are weapons with high explosives on board. So the slightest mistake or slightest accident can trigger off a huge accident. The question of sabotage ... All possibilities have to be considered, but sabotage is probably the last possibility.”

Russian firm Zvyozdochka, which refitted the submarine, said the vessel had been fully operational when it was returned to India in January.

The incident is the worst ever for the navy’s submarine arm, sparking memories of the blast on Russian nuclear sub Kursk which sank in the Barents Sea in 2000, killing all 118 crew.