India's Navy Chief Doesn't 'Rule Out Sabotage' In Submarine Explosion And Sinking

Flames from the INS Sindhurakshak burn in Mumbai, India, late on Wednesday. Vikalp Shah / Reuters

Submarine Disaster: Navy Chief Doesn't 'Rule Out Sabotage' -- Times of India

MUMBAI: The Indian Navy chief said the cause of the huge explosions that sank INS Sindhurakshak submarine here early on Wednesday was not known but sabotage was unlikely.

Admiral DK Joshi told the media after defence minister AK Antony visited the disaster site that any number of factors could have led to the tragedy that is believed to have killed 18 officers and sailors. He said initially there was a primary explosion of smaller intensity which in turn caused a major explosion, destroying ammunition stored in the front section of the deep sea attack vessel.

"We cannot rule out sabotage," he said. "But indications at this point do not support the (sabotage) theory.

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My Comment: He has mentioned that "indications at this point do not support the (sabotage) theory" .... but if proven to be the case .... all eyes will be looking at Pakistan .... and all bets are off after that.

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Explosion And Sinking Of The Indian Submarine INS Sindhurakshak Claims 18 Sailors

Indian Submarine Explodes While Moored at Mumbai Dock -- Voice of America

NEW DELHI — India’s defense minister says a massive explosion aboard a diesel-powered submarine, moored at a dockyard in Mumbai, has killed some of the 18 sailors on board. The apparent accident comes as the navy has been modernizing its fleet and recently celebrated the launch of an indigenously built aircraft carrier.

Navy divers attempted to rescue the sailors trapped on board after the huge explosion early Wednesday at a naval dockyard in Mumbai. Officials said the divers could not approach the half submerged vessel for several hours because it was too hot.

Some sailors reportedly managed to jump to safety following the explosion, but an unknown number were believed to have been trapped inside.

When rescue operations failed to bring any news for hours, Defense Minister A.K. Antony indicated that there have been casualties. He called it a tragedy.

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More News On The Explosion And Sinking Of The Indian Submarine INS Sindhurakshak

Indian naval official says all 18 sailors on blast-hit submarine feared dead -- Washington Post/AP
Indian Sailors Killed as Explosion Rips Through Docked Sub -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Blast Aboard Submarine A Blow To Indian Military -- NPR
Hope fades for 18 on Indian submarine after blasts, fire -- Reuters
Explosion at Mumbai port sinks Indian submarine -- Christian Science Monitor
What We Know About INS Sindhurakshak -- Wall Street Journal
Huge blow to Indian Navy as submarine explodes with 18 men -- Times of India
Naval chief on submarine tragedy: Don't know what went wrong -- Times of India
Russian shipyard says it enhanced submarine INS Sindhurakshak's safety mechanism -- Economic Times
Sindhurakshak was refitted and delivered by Russia this year -- The Hindu
Sub Fire A Major Setback for Indian Navy -- Defense News
Q&A: India’s Aging Submarine Fleet -- Wall Street Journal
World’s Most Deadly Submarine Explosions -- Wall Street Journal

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India Launches It's First Home-Built Aircraft Carrier ‘Vikrant’

India Launches Indigenously-Built Aircraft Carrier -- Voice of America

India has launched an indigenously-built aircraft carrier, joining a small group of countries capable of building such a warship.The project is part of India's efforts to enhance its naval capabilities amid a growing regional rivalry with the other Asian giant, China.

Standing in front of the 37,500 ton warship decorated with flags and buntings in the southern city of Kochi on Monday, Defense Minister A.K. Antony called it a “red letter day [a day of special significance] for the nation.”

There was an outpouring of national pride at the carrier's launch. India's biggest warship has been designed and built locally, making it the fifth country after Britain, France, Russia and the United States to do so.

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More News On India's Navy Launching It's Own Aircraft Carrier

Now India joins the aircraft carrier club: New ship launched just days after Japan showed off its new destroyer -- Daily Mail
India launches aircraft carrier with a flight deck twice the size of a football field — a shot across the bow to China -- National Post/AP
India unveils home-built aircraft carrier -- USA Today/AP
India unveils home-built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant -- CNN
India unveils first home-built aircraft carrier ‘Vikrant’ -- Euronews
India launches first home-built aircraft carrier -- RT
Aircraft carrier 'INS Vikrant' raises hackles in China -- Times of India
India launches first home-made aircraft carrier -- The Telegraph
India's first aircraft carrier set for launch: Defence minister's wife prepares to do the honours for 37,500 tonne INS Vikrant -- Daily Mail
INS Vikrant unlikely to be battle-ready before 2020 -- Times of India

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