Seven sailors injured in India submarine accident

[MUMBAI] Seven Indian sailors were injured in an accident on a submarine off Mumbai yesterday, the navy said, with reports of another two missing in the latest incident to hit the force. The seven sailors suffered smoke inhalation and were airlifted from the submarine for treatment, navy spokesman Rahul Sinha said.

"The submarine was on a routine training sortie off Mumbai's coast when smoke was detected. Measures were taken to contain it," Commander Sinha told the NDTV news channel. "All the sailors are currently undergoing treatment under the supervision of a team of doctors. But I do not have details."

Naval ships have already taken up posts around the Russian-built INS Sindhuratna to provide help, he added.

Another two crew members were missing, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency which cited unnamed navy officials. The seven injured sailors fell unconscious after a leak in the submarine's battery compartment during the training exercise near Mumbai harbour, PTI said, citing navy sources.

The Indian navy has 14 submarines, but only between seven and nine are operational at any one time because of regular repair and refitting. - AFP