Two days after a major fire broke out on INS Sindhuratna killing two Navy officers and injuring seven sailors, the Board of Inquiry instituted by the Defence Ministry began investigations.
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The committee, headed by an officer of the rank of Rear Admiral, has been asked to investigate not just the fire on Sindhuratna but also earlier incidents. The panel will look into the two incidents concerning submarines, naval sources told The Hindu.
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Last August, INS Sindhurakshak sank after an explosion, killing 18 on board. In January this year, INS Sindhughosh was about to run aground when entering the Mumbai harbour during low tide.
The panel will rely on forensic report and will record the statements of survivors to recreate the sequence of events that led to the tragedy, sources said.
A Naval team, which includes forensic experts, inspected the submarine anchored at the Naval dockyard on Thursday. The team has been given the mandate to inspect and assess the damage.
Body brought home
The body of Lieutenant Commander Manoranjan Kumar, who died in the accident, was received with a guard of honour at the Ranchi airport on Saturday afternoon before being taken to his home in Jamshedpur.
Manoranjan’s father Naveen Kumar, younger brother Sumant, a Class 12 student, and two uncles flew here from Mumbai with the body. They were accompanied by seven of Manoranjan’s course-mates from the Navy.