Above: INS Sindhurakshak ablaze (Reuters)
Posted at Wikipedia:
On 14 August 2013, [INS] Sindhurakshak [S63] sank after explosions caused by a fire took place onboard when the submarine was docked at Mumbai. The fire, followed by a series of ordnance blasts on the armed submarine, occurred shortly after midnight. The fire was put out within two hours. It is unclear exactly what caused the fire. Due to damage from the explosions, the submarine sank at its berth with only a portion visible above the water surface. Sailors on board reportedly jumped off to safety. Navy divers were also brought in as there was a possibility that 18 personnel were trapped inside. India's defence minister confirmed that there were fatalities.
Due to the explosion, the front section of the submarine was twisted, bent and crumpled, and water had entered the forward compartment. Another [Kilo class] submarine, INS Sindhuratna [S59], also sustained minor damage when the fire on Sindhurakshak caused its torpedoes to explode. Defence minister A. K. Antony briefed the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the submarine incident, and would leave for Mumbai to visit the accident site.
Official sources said it was "highly unlikely" the submarine could be returned to service.Iran's navy also operates three Kilo class submarines: Tareq (901), Noor (902) and Yunes (903), which like the stricken Indian submarines are also Project 877EKM types.
File photo of INS Sindhurakshak (Reuters)
