Seven Naval officers have been indicted in a probe into the fire that occurred on board submarine INS Sindhuratna off Mumbai coast in February this year killing two officers and then Navy Chief Admiral DK Joshi resigning owning “moral responsibility” for the mishap.
The mandatory Board of Inquiry instituted after the accident on February 26 found seven officers “culpable of various acts of omission and commission,” Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. He also said a disciplinary action has been initiated against these officers at the Mumbai based Western Naval Command Headquarters.
The officers have been served show cause notice and given 20 to 30 days to present their version, officials said here. The officers reportedly included those involved in supervising the refit and upgrade of the submarine from May to December 2013 besides those directly responsible for the operations of the Russian made submarine.
The Board of Inquiry and the Naval Headquarters will review the reply of these officers before taking disciplinary action. It could range from loss of pay or seniority to court martial depending on the gravity of omission and commission, officials said.
The mishap took place when the third compartment of the submarine housing sailors was engulfed in fire and smoke while it was undergoing final examination undersea before re-induction into service. Two Electrical Officers on board rushed to the compartment and tried to shut the hatch of the compartment to prevent smoke from spreading. They died due to suffocation while all 20 others on board including the commander were rescued. The submarine had undergone a short refit at Mumbai Docks from May to December last year costing Rs100 to 200 crore.
Giving the details of August 14, 2013, accident in which an explosion occurred on board another submarine, INS Sindhurakshak, resulting in her sinking and the loss of life of all 18 personnel, Parrikar said the examination of the Board of Inquiry report in the case was not yet
completed. The report is still with the Naval headquarters, he added.