INS Sindhurakshak: Navy divers recover sixth body

Mumbai: Battling difficult conditions, rescuers from Indian Navy extricated body of one more victim from the submarine INS Sindhurakshak late last evening, taking the total number of bodies recovered so far to six, naval sources said. The rescue team had on Friday extricated badly charred bodies of five of the 18 personnel trapped in the craft after grueling efforts as naval authorities voiced worst fears that others on board might have been incinerated too. “Body of one more sailor was recovered from the submarine late this evening,” Navy sources said. The divers had managed to open a second access to the sunken vessel during an overnight operation. [caption id=“attachment_1041673” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Rescue work at the dockyard where INS Sindhurakshak sank. PTI[/caption] Sources said the Navy divers are carrying out the task of searching within the submarine by “feeling each inch” due to zero visibility within flooded compartments to locate the missing bodies and mark a probable route to be used for further rescue operations. 18 Navy personnel, including three officers, were on board the Russia-made submarine when a devastating fire ripped through the frontline underwater craft following serial explosions on Tuesday midnight. The Navy has instituted a Board of Inquiry to probe the cause of the explosions and fire which is expected to submit its report within four weeks. Mumbai Police have also registered a case of accidental death in connection with the worst peacetime tragedy suffered by the Navy. PTI