Watch exclusive pics of INS Sindhurakshak salvage operations

Mumbai: India TV has received exclusive pictures of the ill-fated submarine INS Sindhurakshak, which sank after a blast and fire killing 18 Navy personnel. Preliminary investigations have indicated that blasts on the submarine were caused by "possible ignition" of armament, Defence Minister A K Antony has told Rajya Sabha. In wake of the incident, the Navy has ordered extensive checks on weapon-related safety systems on all its submarines, he said in a suo motu statement on the submarine accident in Mumbai last week.Antony says, the "rapidity and intensity of the explosions and the resultant damage to the submarine indicate that the 18 personnel on board would not have survived."" The cause of ignition is, however, yet to be established. Forensic examination would throw more light into the possible cause of ignition," says Antony. He said this would be possible only after the "partially submerged" submarine is afloat and dewatered.After the accident, the Navy has ordered an audit of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on all operational submarines and extensive checks on the weapon-related safety systems. The explosion and resultant damage were near instantaneous, and the 18 personnel could not evacuate, says the Defence Minister. Although full details are yet to emerge, the rapidity and intensity of explosion and resultant damage sustained by the submarine indicate that the personnel would not have survived.Antony said globally-renowned salvage agencies have been approached and they are undertaking survey for salvage operations.There is also an offer of help from Russia, where the refit and upgrade of the submarine had been undertaken, Antony told Parliament. The submarine is presently resting on its bottom and "partially submerged" next to the jetty."Diving operations by the Navy are in progress round the clock to attempt search for the personnel, assess the damage and also attempt to arrest leakages and ensure dewatering," he said.The divers from Navy have entered the submarine but their access has remained limited to only some parts of the submarine due to heavy damage and flooding of compartments with obstructions from debris and structural distortions. Breaches have been indicated in the "watertight integrity in the forward portion of the submarine hull" after inserting high pressure air as part of efforts to identify possible areas of water ingress.Efforts have been made to dewater the flooded compartments using high capacity pumps. However, there has been no discernible change in the water level inside the submarine, indicating likelihood of ingress of water through openings due to structural damage, says Antony.