Dear Sir,
The sinking of the Indian naval submarine, INS Sindhurakshak, killing 18 personnel on board on August 13 has been heartbreaking news. The submarine sank following an explosion and fire. May the souls of the deceased rest in peace.
Minor accidents are common in all vessels and submarines are no exception. Submarine sailors live in a confined space with limited access and egress. Once the hatches are shut and the order for the dive is received from the sub’s captain, the entire crew will be isolated from surface as the vessel submerges to its ideal depth.
The cause of the Sindhurakshak accident is still not known. Some experts feel that the primary explosion was due to a fire in battery clusters, which led to the warhead explosion.
INS Sindhurakshak, a Russian-made Kilo-class type, was considered one of the safest submarines in the world with double pressure hull put in service in 1997. The double hull was meant to protect the vessel from external attacks and to help contain any inner explosion as well.
The sub had many other safety features to prevent its warhead exploding. Safety measures also existed for its missiles on board too.
That is why the explosion of its warhead raises many doubts. What was the cause for the primary explosion? Was it a fire due to hydrogen generated by batteries? Was the fire capable of igniting the warhead like torpedo/missiles? Or was there a leakage in the fuel of warheads? Or was there sabotage? A full investigation, it is hoped, will find answers to these questions.
The Sindhurakshak tragedy reminds us of the Russian nuclear submarine, Kursk, which exploded and sank in 2000, killing all 118 crew on board. Though the exact reasons for its sinking are still not known, the leakage in the fuel system of the torpedo was assessed as a primary factor behind the explosion. Irrespective of the reason, the lesson learnt was that there were lapses in the safety measures adopted by submarine manufacturers and designers, and from time-to-time, it is mandatory that these be reviewed and compliance measures be adopted. To put it in perspective from a safety issue, pro-active measures are needed rather than reactive action to prevent such incidents.
Ships are safe at harbour, but they are not meant for that. In case of INS Sindhurakshak , the accident occurred at harbour. The life of a submariner is full of perils. That is why only those with extraordinary courage and fitness volunteer to serve in a submarine.
The Indian naval rescue team, especially divers, did a tremendous job in searching for and retrieving bodies out of the sunken sub, encountering perilous conditions and even putting their own life in danger. Bravo Zulu!
I would like to ask present and would-be submariners not to lose heart over the accident. We cannot change what has happened. From an optimist’s perspective, it can even be argued that it was fortunate that the explosion did not occur while the sub was on a mission at sea with its full strength of crew on board. Once the investigation is completed, one hopes the authorities will take necessary steps to prevent such tragedies.
O Balakrishnan
Submariner (rtd)
Turning point for global economy
Dear Sir,
This is in reference to the article, “Mass flourishing: how it was won and then lost” (Gulf Times August 18). Except Germany, almost all European nations are facing economic problems coupled with unemployment for some time now.
The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century had changed the face of England and France. They exploited the overseas colonies’ natural resources to enrich their industries. They then sold the finished products from their factories back to the colonies, making hefty profits.
England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal were in a race to colonise the African nations. Colonisation made the European nations prosperous. But, the First and Second World Wars as well as the economic depression in the 1930s hit them hard. After the end of the Second World War in 1945, their colonies started gaining independence.
Industrialisation and expansion of world trade continued to benefit Europe. But recession has now caught up with most of these nations which are forced to take a series of austerity measures to overcome their economic problems. The global economy is once again at a turning point.
C Robinson
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