Mumbai: Navy divers have found five bodies from the mangled remains of the submarine, INS Sindhurakshak. As rescue operations continue, Russia has defended the submarine saying they don't see any technical failure as the likely cause behind the incident. Russia has also offered help in the probe.
Of the five bodies found on Friday, one is that of Jiju Lawrence who had accompanied the submarine to Russia for refitting. The other four recovered bodies are charred beyond recognition and have been sent for DNA identification.
Navy divers have gained a second access to the submarine late Friday night when they successfully prised open the rear escape hatch which was submerged below water and jammed due to high temperatures, according to a press release from the Defence Wing.
This operation was challenging but critical. Opening of the jammed forward escape hatch was also being attempted for an entry to the front portion of the submarine.
Another team worked their way into one of the forward compartments and found the fifth body of the eighteen missing late last night. The identification of all the five bodies of the crew members has been given high priority and all means including DNA profiling has been carried out.
Navy divers were carrying out the task of searching within the submarine by feeling each inch due to zero visibility within flooded compartments to locate the missing bodies and mark a probable route to be used for further rescue operation.
The families have been accommodated in naval premises and were being informed regularly on all aspects of the ongoing search activities by specially formed family support teams of naval officers, sailors and members of Navy Wives Welfare Association.
Preliminary survey by reputed salvers was also in progress.
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