The Indian Navy is continuing search for four missing personnel, including an officer and three sailors, on Wednesday, a week after its torpedo recovery vessel sank off the coast of Visakhapatnam.
Indian Navy’s TRV A-72 sank 38 nautical miles off Visakhapatnam coast last Thursday night while on its way back after participating in a routine exercise. It was carrying 29 personnel, including seven scientists from the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, and some officers and personnel from Naval Armaments. Indian Navy ships and helicopters could rescue 25 personnel and one person, petty officer James Jacob, died in the rescue operation. According to official reports the 28.5 m long Naval Auxiliary Ship sank due to flooding of the steering compartment.
A Navy spokesperson told The Hindu that the search and rescue (SAR) operations would continue and Navy would do all it takes to find its missing personnel. Taking into consideration the prevailing drift and currents the search area has been extended. Given the fact that the area under search operations has grown the shape of the SAR is likely to change and focus more likely to be on aerial search, he explained.
A Board of Inquiry headed by a Captain is in progress to investigate into the circumstances leading to the mishap.
