Navy Chief Admiral DK Joshi resigned on Wednesday owning moral responsibility after the submarine fleet was struck by its third disaster in seven months. Smoke in the sailors’ accommodation on INS Sindhuratna led to casualties.
Two personnel were missing at the time of going to press and seven sailors who had inhaled smoke were evacuated to the Naval Hospital, INHS Asvini, in Mumbai.
The seven crew members are safe and the smoke was brought under control by the crew, according to a statement issued by the Navy.
“Taking moral responsibility for the accidents and incidents which have taken place during the past few months, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral DK Joshi today resigned…The Government has accepted the resignation of Admiral Joshi with immediate effect,” said a statement on the Press Information Bureau website.
The incident occurred early on Wednesday, when the submarine was off the Mumbai coast on a routine exercise. About 80 sailors were on board the Sindhuratna and the Navy said “all other crew are on board and safe”. The cause of the smoke has not yet been ascertained. The impact was minimised as the submarine was not carrying any weapons on board.
“Two personnel have not yet been located and efforts are in progress to locate them,” the Navy said in a statement.
The incident brought back unpleasant memories of a much bigger disaster in August 2013, when an explosion onboard INS Sindhurakshak claimed the lives of 18 sailors. The Navy is yet to make public its findings on the cause of the explosion, at the Mumbai Naval Dockyard.
Vice-Admiral RK Dhowan, the Vice-Chief of Naval Staff, will discharge the duties of the Naval Chief until a new one is appointed.