As the search and rescue efforts to trace the four sailors missing since Thursday after the Torpedo Recovery Vessel(TRV) sank off Vishakhapatnam continued on Monday, Navy chief Admiral RK Dhowan admitted that the chances of recovering them was “grim.”
Voicing “grave concern” over the sinking of the 110-ton ship 35 nautical miles off Vishakhapatnam coast, Dhowan, however, said the search will go on for another three to four days. Nine warships and four types of aircraft are looking for the missing, including one officer and three sailors.
The ship was carrying 20 people including six top DRDO scientists when tragedy struck. A nearby warship managed to rescue 24 of them including the scientists. One sailor died in the mishap which most probably took place after sea water gushed into the ship through malfunctioning seals of shafts. These seals prevent ingress of water into the vessel.
Dhowan, who had visited the mishap site on Sunday, said the search operation is still continuing and as per procedure the Navy will continue the efforts for seven days which is up to November 13.
He termed the sinking of the vessel as “an unfortunate incident” which is being taken with “grave seriousness” and with all "due grave concern."