An Indian Naval diver lost one of his legs and two other divers were left seriously injured after a diving bailout bottle exploded while it was being charged on board Indian Naval Ship (INS) Nireekshak on Saturday evening. INS Nireekshak – a diving support vessel which can also be used for submarine rescue – was sailing 40 nautical miles off Vizhinjam near Thiruvananthapuram when the incident happened.
One of the sailors' right leg had to be amputated above the knee. His other leg too is injured. "Two other sailors sustained splinter injuries on stomach and leg," said Captain DK Sharma, spokesperson of Indian Navy. Apart from that, the sailors suffered burn injuries too.
"All the three were admitted in Military Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram as the ship was off Vizhinjam en route to Mumbai from Vizag. They are now stable and have been shifted to Mumbai," said Commander Rahul Sinha, spokesperson.
Once the sailor, who lost his limb, recovers further, he will be send to Command Hospital, Kirkee in Pune for further treatment and fixing prosthetic limb. He is unlikely to dive again. It is not yet clear if the other two sailors will be able to join their ship again for diving activities.
An inquiry has been ordered into the incident. This is probably the first time in the Indian Naval history that a dive bailout bottle exploded whilst charging. Dive bottles are 12-inch oxygen bottles attached to divers' helmets that will help bail them out in an eventuality of oxygen in the main tank running out.
