Mumbai:
Bodies of four of the 18 sailors who were inside the INS Sindhurakshak when it exploded in a ball of flames on Wednesday after midnight have been found this morning by naval divers.
(Read)The INS Sindhurakshak, 16 years old and made in Russia, was fitted with torpedoes and Klub missiles, one of which was accidentally ejected during the twin explosions, a senior source in the Navy said.
So far, the Navy has ruled out sabotage and a recent recharging of the submarine's batteries as the cause for the explosion which took place in the front compartment, where weapons are stored.
Sources also told NDTV that signs suggest that the experienced crew was not negligent. "Every crew man on board had put in over 10 years and had the highest certifications possible," a senior official told NDTV.
India has 14 other submarine units, including the nuclear-powered submarine. New guidelines for safety procedures have been issued to their crews, based on this week's disaster, the worst for the Indian Navy in peace-time.