Defence Minister A K Antony has said that he had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before accepting the resignation of Admiral D K Joshi as Navy Chief. Admiral Joshi yesterday resigned in the wake of submarine mishap after taking moral responsibility of the accident.

Talking to reporters in New Delhi this morning, the Defence Minister said he is sad about the whole development. Mr Antony said yesterday, Admiral Joshi met him personally and handed over his resignation letter and requested to accept the letter with immediate effect. He described the Navy Chief as a good Admiral and a fine human being.

Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral Robin Dhowan has been made the acting Navy chief after Joshi's resignation.

The Navy today said an Inquiry into INS Sindhuratna mishap headed by a Rear Admiral-rank officer will also look into earlier submarine mishaps. Navy sources also said it has continued its search for two officers, who have been missing after submarine INS Sindhuratna had a mishap off the Mumbai coast yesterday.

The process is also on to bring the ill-fated submarine to the Mumbai dock. A Navy source said today that it is taking a bit longer time in towing the submarine because of its restrictive movement.

Meanwhile, the source also said the condition of the seven seriously injured personnel, who had inhaled smoke and were airlifted to the naval hospital INS Ashwini, is reported to be stable.

INS Sindhuratna was at sea off Mumbai for routine training in the early hours of yesterday when smoke was reported in the sailors' accommodation by the submarine.