Sindhuratna fire: Commanding Officer to be court-martialled

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 30

Eleven months after an accident onboard submarine INS Sindhuratna killed two Indian Navy officers, the Commanding Officer of the vessel, Commander Sandeep Sinha, will be court martialled while six others, including a senior officer in charge of submarine operations, will be given Letters of Severe Displeasure.

The then Navy Chief Admiral DK Joshi had resigned “taking moral responsibility” for the accident on February 26 last year. Navy Chief Admiral Robin K Dhowan handed out the punishment to the seven officers, sources confirmed today. Commander Sinha -- who is equal to a Lt Colonel in the Indian Army — will face a general court martial. The six others who have been awarded Letters of Severe Displeasure include Commodore SR Kapoor, the Commodore Commanding Submarines (COMCOS-West). He is equal to a Brigadier-rank officer and was aboard the vessel that fateful day.

Two more officers from the office of the COMCOS and three other officers posted on board the submarine face punishment. Displeasure will mean no promotions and no career progression for two years from the date the punishment is notified.

INS Sindhuratna, commissioned in 1988, was undergoing inspection after a refit when the fire occurred, resulting in the loss of life of two officers --- Deputy Electrical Officer Lt Commander Kapish Muwal and Watch-Keeping Officer Lt Manoranjan Kumar.
The accident occurred around 100 km west of Mumbai. Seven sailors, who had fainted due to inhalation of smoke, were airlifted using naval helicopters from mid-sea to the Mumbai-based naval hospital INS Asvini. A total of 70 officers and men were on board. Sources said the Navy has punished these officers for acts of "omission and commission". The incorrect use of batteries -- borrowed for sea trials from another Kilo-class submarine the INS Sindhukesri -- is said to be one of the causes of the accident.