Seven found culpable in Sindhuratna accident: Parrikar

A board of inquiry probing the accident in submarine INS Sindhuratna has found seven officers culpable and action has been initiated against them, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told parliament Tuesday.

"The BOI report in case of INS Sindhuratna has found seven officers culpable of various acts of omissions and commissions," Parrikar told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

"Disciplinary action against these officers has been initiated at the Western Naval Command headquarters," he said.

The minister said that the examination of BOI report in case of INS Sindhurakshak has not been completed.

Parrikar was responding to a question on the two accidents, the explosion in INS Sindhurakshak Aug 14, 2013, which resulted in sinking of the vessel and death of 18 service personnel and the accident of INS Sindhuratna Feb 26 this year resulting in death of two.

Two sailors died and seven members of the 94-strong crew were evacuated after inhaling smoke aboard the diesel-powered submarine following a fire.