INS Sindhurakshak probe racing against time

A month after the sunken Navy submarine INS Sindhurakshak was pulled out of the sea, three Board of Inquiries are running against time to complete the investigation into the tragedy that took place almost a year ago.

The fully-armed kilo-class submarine suddenly exploded and sunk off the Mumbai coast on August 14 last. The teams are on an arduous task to find the cause of the accident that killed 18 naval personnel, and whether the submarine as a whole or any of its components are usable. Also, how much would be the cost involved to make the submarine operational – if possible – once again.

The submarine was pulled out of water after a five-month complex operation by a US firm, Resolve Marine, that was chosen for the Rs 240-crore operation.

The 2300-tonne boat was 7-m underwater till it was winched out in May. Weapons were also removed from the submarine. The next part of the operation was to prepare the boat for towing, which is currently underway. It involved sealing of cracks and leaks to ensure water did not enter the boat when it was taken from Mumbai to Karwar, said a source.

When Navy Chief Admiral R K Dhowan briefed Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on the Navy’s preparedness last month, he is understood to have given the minister a lowdown on the salvage operation and the Navy’s depleting underwater strength.

The Board of Inquiry reports will be submitted to the defence minister, who will take a decision on what should be done with the ill-fated submarine that was refitted at a cost of Rs 815 crore, months before the accident.

The Navy will make an all-out effort either to reuse the entire boat, or if that is not possible, then at least some of the systems and components inside the submarine. The condition of the pressure hull comprising 23-30 mm thick steel, would be a deciding factor.

But if the investigations conclude that it cannot be reused under any circumstance, converting the submarine into a museum is an option for the government. Two decommissioned submarines are currently being used as museums.