Frantic rescue efforts continue aboard vessel berthed in Mumbai

Divers were desperately trying to pry open the hatches of an Indian submarine in which several sailors died or were trapped after an explosion and fire on Wednesday.

Eighteen sailors were aboard the Russian-built INS Sindhurakshak when the blast struck after midnight.

The accident soured a week of naval milestones, including the launch of a locally built aircraft carrier aimed at giving the navy heft as it competes with China in the Indian Ocean.

Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony said crew members inside the diesel-electric Kilo-class submarine, berthed at the main base in Mumbai, had died.

But he gave no details, more than 12 hours after the incident, which revived memories of explosions on the Russian nuclear-attack submarine Kursk in the Barents Sea in 2000. Its entire crew of 118 died.

"There was an explosion immediately after midnight in the forward side of the submarine, where missiles and torpedoes are kept to be used whenever necessary," a naval source said.

"Now the submarine is tilted on the front side and all hatches are closed. They are trying to open those now."

He said one or two men are usually on duty on top of the submarine and they either jumped into the water or were thrown off by the force of the explosion. The number of crew in the boat when fully operational is 110.

Indian Navy spokesman P.V.S. Satish earlier said efforts were underway to rescue trapped crew members. "We will not give up until we get to them," he said.

Photographs distributed by social media users appeared to show a large fireball over the navy dock.

In February 2010, the INS Sindhurakshak also suffered a fire while docked in Visakhapatnam in southern India, killing a 24-year-old sailor and leaving two others with burns.

Typically, such a submarine is fitted with torpedoes and missiles. Torpedoes are launched underwater to attack other submarines while missiles are used for long ranges above water. There was no immediate word on the status of the weapons on board the Sindhurakshak.

"Lot of things are in very close proximity. There is fuel, there is hydrogen, there is oxygen, there are weapons with high explosives on board," said retired Indian navy chief Arun Prakash.

"So a slightest mistake or slightest accident can trigger off a huge accident. The question of sabotage - I mean, all possibilities have to be considered - but sabotage is probably the last possibility."

Reuters-AFP