Antony calls it a ‘shocking tragedy’
Reacting to the worst-ever incident in the Indian Navy history, Union defence minister A.K. Antony described the two huge explosions and a fire on Indian Naval Submarine (INS) Sindhu-rakshak as a “shocking tragedy”. Following the tragedy, Mr Anthony visited the Western Naval Dock with Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan.
After visiting the blast site and reviewing the primary reasons of the incident, Mr Antony said, “I am saddened that a tragedy of this magnitude has taken place.” While briefing the media at the headquarters of the Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy in Mumbai, he said, “The crewmembers inside the diesel-electric kilo-class submarine, berthed at the main base in Mumbai, might have died.”
However, even after more than 12 hours since the incident, Mr Antony could not confirm about the deaths and said, “I have no details or confirmation about the deaths so far. I feel very sad about those Navy personnel who lose their lives in the service of the country and my sympathies are with the relatives of the personnel,” he said, without elaborating further. Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan said that all hospitals including J.J. Hospital had been kept on standby in case the Naval staff required it. “We are with the people of the Navy and we will extend whatever support they need from us,” he said.
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