Seven Navy personnel were injured in a mishap on board Kilo Class submarine INS Sindhuratna, 80 kms off the Mumbai coast today. Agency reports say two officers are unaccounted for. Dense smoke filled the cabin of the submarine in the morning while undergoing an inspection before it being cleared for operational duties. Seven personnel who had inhaled smoke were airlifted to a navy hospital.

Russian-origin Sindhuratna had recently undergone a refit in Mumbai and was handed over to Navy in December. It was at the time of mishap undergoing exercise at sea, one of the two exercises before it was to be given operational clearance. A Board of Inquiry under a senior officer has been ordered to ascertain the reason behind the mishap.