The Indian Naval Chief Admiral DK Joshi (59) resigned in the wake of submarine INS Sindhuratna accident. The Defense Ministry has accepted his resignation.
- Vice Admiral RK Dhowan took over as the Acting Chief till regular Naval Chief is appointed.
What is the issue behind the resignation of Navy Chief Mr. DK Joshi?
- Recently, India’s Russian-built submarine, INS Sindhuratna was at sea off Mumbai for routine training and workup (inspection) when smoke was reported in the sailors’ accommodation. In that accident, seven sailors were injured and two officers were dead. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
- This accident was the 10th involving an Indian Navy warship and the third involving a submarine in the last seven months.
- In August 2013, the Navy lost another Kilo, INS Sindhurakshak, in a fire that gutted the boat and killed all 18 crew on board.
- Due to the repeated accidents of naval vessels and submarines, Mr. Joshi took the moral responsibility and resigned form the post of Naval Chief.
- He became the first Indian naval chief to resign.
Note: INS Sindhuratna (S59) is a Sindhughosh-class diesel-electric submarine of the Indian Navy.