By IANS
Mumbai : Indian Navy submarine “INS Sindhughosh” was berthed for repairs Thursday with a damaged fin after colliding with a merchant vessel two days ago while taking part in war games off the Gujarat coast.
All 53 crewmembers of the 72.6 m long submarine were reported safe following the Monday accident with “MV Leads Castle”, which is registered in the Cayman Island, a British territory near Cuba.
Military officials did not provide details, but other sources said the collision took place around 12 nautical miles off the Veraval coast near Porbandar.
One of the fins of the submarine, which propels it forward under the sea, got damaged.
The Indian Navy has brought towed the submarine to Mumbai for repairs. The area has been declared out of bounds for everyone barring authorised defence and navy personnel.
The submarine, reportedly equipped with sophisticated anti-ship and anti-land missiles, was acquired in 1986 from Russia, where it was refitted and upgraded last year.
Military sources told IANS that the incident – the second of its kind in 15 years – has shocked the defence establishment.