Catastrophe at Sea: Tragic Lessons Shape India’s Naval Future After INS Sindhurakshak Disaster
Mumbai, India — In a tragic mishap that underscored the perils of modern naval operations, the Indian Navy’s INS Sindhurakshak, a Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine, was destroyed in a series of explosions on August 14, 2013, while docked in Mumbai. The incident, the most severe peacetime naval disaster in Indian history, resulted in the deaths of all 18 crew members onboard. The catastrophe began with an initial explosion in the submarine’s forward armament compartment, which set …