Sindhurakshak tragedy: Mukherjee expresses grief on loss of lives of Indian Navy personnel

President Pranab Mukherjee has expressed his grief and sorrow on the loss of lives of Indian Naval personnel in an explosion in the INS Sindhurakshak.

"I am saddened to learn about the loss of lives of Indian Navy personnel in the tragic incident involving the INS Sindhurakshak submarine which caught fire after a massive explosion and sank in the dockyard in Mumbai," said President Mukherjee in his message to Navy Chief Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi.

"I am sure that the Ministry of Defence and the State Government are providing all possible help to the bereaved families who have lost their near and dear ones. Kindly convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. I pray to the Almighty to give strength and courage to the families to bear this irreparable loss," he added in his message.

Search and rescue operations continue onboard INS Sindhurakshak, three days after it suffered an accidental fire and sank at Mumbai's Naval Dockyard. Bodies of four Navy personnel were recovered today, and 14 people are still missing and feared dead.