A mishap on decommissioned submarine INS Vagli at Chennai Port claimed the lives of two persons, while two others are undergoing treatment at a government hospital.
Six persons boarded the submarine on Monday to carry out welding work so it could be towed to Mamallapuram for display in the proposed maritime heritage museum.
Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation had handed over the job to a private firm, which in turn contracted it to another firm.
After completing work on the outside of the submarine, Mahendran (36) entered the vessel but passed out soon after. Immediately, Jayakumar (24) and Bhavani Shankar (47) entered the submarine but they too fell unconscious.
The incident happened around 5.30 p.m., in Jawahar Dock at Chennai port.
According to doctors, Mahendran died of asphyxia. Naval divers rescued an unconscious Jayakumar from the submarine around 8.30 p.m. Diver Karan Singh, who rescued Jayakumar, is also recuperating in the hospital. The body of Bhavani Shankar was retrieved around midnight.
Jayakumar suffered amnesia temporarily and for some time could not recall incidents leading up to his hospitalisation. He was injured in the right thigh but all his organs were functioning well, doctors said.
A marine officer said the private firm had failed to adhere to precautionary measures while undertaking the job. It was not known if the crew had the detailed map of the submarine, including the location of the fuel tank.
Relatives of the dead workers said the submarine was decommissioned around three years ago. They wondered if the submarine had undergone de-gasification and if the company had in place safety kits such as water and oxygen cylinders during the welding operation.
They said the State government must conduct a thorough probe into the incident.
