ID :
29338
Mon, 11/10/2008 - 00:56
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http://m.oananews.org//node/29338
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At least 20 killed on Russian nuke sub-marine for India
Vinay Shukla
Moscow, Nov 9 (PTI) At least 20 people including four
sailors were killed and 21 injured in a gas leak accident on
board a brand new nuclear-powered Nerpa submarine to be leased
to India during a sea trial in the Pacific Ocean.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered a high
level probe into the major accident, the worst since the 2000
Kursk mishap.
"The accident took place last night when the automatic
fire extinguishing system was activated accidentally filling
the two compartments with a highly toxic gas killing those
inside," N.T.V. reported quoting Naval spokesman Capt Igor
Dygalo.
According to Capt Dygalo there was no radiation leak and
the sub, 'K-152 Nerpa,' is returning to the base independently
with its reactor working in normal mode.
There were 208 people - 81 of them servicemen - on board
the vessel at the time of accident. Among those killed were
shipyard workers and naval personnel.
Meanwhile, 21 people, some seriously injured, have been
evacuated from the submarine.
The distressed Nerpa submarine, escorted by an
anti-submarine ship 'Admiral Tributs' and a rescue vessel
'Sayany', is moving to a temporary base.
Capt Dygalo said the vessel has not been damaged. Further
tests to be conducted on it have since been cancelled on the
order of the Navy commander-in-chief.
N.T.V. channel reported that the nuclear submarine was to
be commissioned later this year and an Indian crew was
expected to arrive to take the charge of the vessel.
Christened as I.N.S. Chakra the deadly submarine was to
be leased to India for ten years.
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has instructed the
Defence Ministry to conduct a thorough investigation into the
accident and provide the necessary assistance to the victims'
families.
The incident is Russia's worst naval accident since 2000
when another nuclear submarine, Kursk, alongwith the 118
crewmen, had capsized in the Barents Sea after an explosion.
Later in August 2003, nine of the ten sailors on board
K-159 submarine have died, when it also sank in the Barents
Sea while being taken out of service.
Yesterday's accident came as Kremlin seeks to restore
country's naval reputation amid strained relations with the
West.
A naval squadron is headed to Venezuela this month for
joint exercises near US waters in a show of force. PTI VS
SAK
NNNN
Moscow, Nov 9 (PTI) At least 20 people including four
sailors were killed and 21 injured in a gas leak accident on
board a brand new nuclear-powered Nerpa submarine to be leased
to India during a sea trial in the Pacific Ocean.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered a high
level probe into the major accident, the worst since the 2000
Kursk mishap.
"The accident took place last night when the automatic
fire extinguishing system was activated accidentally filling
the two compartments with a highly toxic gas killing those
inside," N.T.V. reported quoting Naval spokesman Capt Igor
Dygalo.
According to Capt Dygalo there was no radiation leak and
the sub, 'K-152 Nerpa,' is returning to the base independently
with its reactor working in normal mode.
There were 208 people - 81 of them servicemen - on board
the vessel at the time of accident. Among those killed were
shipyard workers and naval personnel.
Meanwhile, 21 people, some seriously injured, have been
evacuated from the submarine.
The distressed Nerpa submarine, escorted by an
anti-submarine ship 'Admiral Tributs' and a rescue vessel
'Sayany', is moving to a temporary base.
Capt Dygalo said the vessel has not been damaged. Further
tests to be conducted on it have since been cancelled on the
order of the Navy commander-in-chief.
N.T.V. channel reported that the nuclear submarine was to
be commissioned later this year and an Indian crew was
expected to arrive to take the charge of the vessel.
Christened as I.N.S. Chakra the deadly submarine was to
be leased to India for ten years.
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has instructed the
Defence Ministry to conduct a thorough investigation into the
accident and provide the necessary assistance to the victims'
families.
The incident is Russia's worst naval accident since 2000
when another nuclear submarine, Kursk, alongwith the 118
crewmen, had capsized in the Barents Sea after an explosion.
Later in August 2003, nine of the ten sailors on board
K-159 submarine have died, when it also sank in the Barents
Sea while being taken out of service.
Yesterday's accident came as Kremlin seeks to restore
country's naval reputation amid strained relations with the
West.
A naval squadron is headed to Venezuela this month for
joint exercises near US waters in a show of force. PTI VS
SAK
NNNN
