A huge explosion and fire that crippled an Indian navy submarine in its home port of Mumbai early Wednesday killed at least some of the 18 sailors aboard, according to the country's defense minister.
Defense Minister A.K. Antony gave no other details but said he felt sad about the loss of lives.
"It's a loss to all of us. It's a tragedy," Antony told reporters before leaving for Mumbai to assess the situation.
Local TV news station Headlines Today showed video of the explosion on the diesel-powered submarine, apparently filmed by a bystander. An enormous ball of red and yellow fire rose hundreds of feet into the air.
An Indian navy official said earlier that at least 18 Indian sailors were trapped on board the sub.
After the fire, the sub, identified as the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sindhurakshak, was submerged at its berth in the naval dockyard with only a portion visible above the surface. The 16-year-old submarine had recently returned from Russia, where it was made, after undergoing an overhaul and upgrade, Rahul Bedi, an analyst for the independent Jane's Information Group, told the Associated Press.
India has 14 diesel-powered submarines, Bedi said.
One man standing outside the dockyard who declined to give his name said he heard a sound like a rocket or jet engine, then a blast. Another witness said the sky turned red after the explosion. Nearly a dozen fire engines rushed to the dockyard to douse the fire.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/08/14/indian-naval-submarine-sinks-catches-fire/
