US, France, Germany offer help after submarine mishap

Many countries including the United States and France have offered help to India in its ongoing operations to bring out bodies in the sunken submarine INS Sindhurakshak.

Navy sources here said that if there is need, assistance may be sought from these countries. Soon after the mishap, countries like the US, France and Germany had offered help to the Indian authorities in the rescue operations of the submarine which sank after a blast with 18 people on board.

The countries which have offered help have a long history of operating and building submarines and have the required expertise in such situations.

On the help to be sought by the navy from foreign sources for salvaging the ship, the sources said the navy has very limited in-house capabilities in this regard. India is in talks with a few international companies who have an expertise in salvaging warships.

The navy had recently hired a Dutch firm for salvaging its frigate INS Vidhyagiri, which had hit a merchant vessel while entering the Mumbai harbour two years ago.

The sources said salvaging the submarine would also give a clear picture about the damage caused to the vessel by the blast and also help the board of inquiry under a commodore (equivalent to brigadier in army) to ascertain the reasons behind the blast.

Navy Chief Admiral D K Joshi is keeping track of the operations and had briefed Defence Minister A K Antony and Defence Secretary R K Mathur on Thursday at the minister's residence, defence ministry sources said.