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The Navy divers have recovered bodies of three sailors from the ill-fated submarine INS Sindhurakshak more than 60 hours after the tragedy.
Eighteen sailors, including three officers, were on board the 2300-tonne submarine when it was rocked by two explosions about midnight on Wednesday. The cause of what triggered the explosion is unknown.
The identity of the sailors, whose bodies were recovered, was yet to be ascertained because they were charred beyond recognition.
The bodies of the sailors have been sent to INHS Asvini for possible DNA identification, the Navy said.
The divers, according to the latest available information, were only able to reach the second compartment and going by the condition of the bodies recovered, it is unlikely that the others would have survived the blast, the Navy said in a release.
“The damage and destruction within the submarine around the control room area indicates that the feasibility of locating bodies of personnel in the forward part of the submarine is also very remote as the explosion and very high temperatures, which melted steel within, would have incinerated the bodies too,” said the release.
However, the Navy said that it will continue to search every inch of the submerged submarine till all bodies are either located or it can be stated with finality that no bodies remain to be found.
The rescue operations were hampered by poor visibility inside the submarine and as divers had to navigate objects that were dislodged from their original position due to the impact.
Also, the fact that there are missiles and torpedos inside the submarine is forcing the divers to tread carefully, a Defence official said.
The families of all the sailors have been contacted and are provided with regular updates, the Navy spokesperson said.
The Navy said that it will attempt to salvage the submarine, with the help of professional salvers if required, only after every possible inch of the submarine has been combed.
It has released the names of all the personnel who were on board INS Sindhurakshak.
>satyanarayan.iyer@thehindu.co.in
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