Two sailors missing and seven injured in Indian navy accident
Two submarine crew members missing after seven sailors suffer smoke inhalation
Two sailors were missing and another seven were injured after smoke filled a submarine off Mumbai on Wednesday, Indian defence officials said, in the latest accident to hit the navy.
The seven sailors suffered breathing problems after trying to contain the smoke which filled the living quarters of the INS Sindhuratna during a training exercise, the navy said in a statement.
They were airlifted from the submarine to hospital for treatment and navy ships were dispatched to help the vessel, said Narendra Kumar Vispute, a spokesman for the defence ministry.
“The incident took place between 6am and 7am. The crew contained the smoke but seven of them had to be airlifted by naval helicopters. They are all stable,” Vispute said, without giving the cause of the incident.
Another two crew members have not yet been found on the Russian-built submarine, which was still seaworthy after the incident and was returning to port in Mumbai, the statement said.
“Two personnel have not yet been located and all efforts are in progress to locate them,” the statement said. “All other crew of the submarine are on board and safe. Submarine is also safe and does not have any weapons on board.”