Explosion on Indian submarine

An Indian naval official has said all sailors on board the blast-hit submarine are feared dead, according to the Associated Press.

Eighteen sailors were on board the Indian navy submarine, INS Sindhurakshak, at the time of the explosion in Mumbai.

Read: Indian explosion 'great tragedy of modern times'

India's Defence Minister A K Anthony has told reporters he is "very sorry for the navy personnel who lost their lives" as he made his way to Mumbai, to survey the damage caused by an explosion on board a submarine in the port.

"I'm going to Mumbai to see and get more details there," he said. "This is a great loss to all of us and it is one of the worst tragedies of our recent time."

A submarine which caught fire following an explosion in the port of Mumbai lack safety equipment common on newer vessels, such as escape routes, an expert in the Indian navy has told AFP.

INS Sindhurakshak was commissioned in 1997 and recently underwent a refurbishment in a Russian shipyard.

India's defence minister A.K. Antony has described the explosion on board a submarine in the port of Mumbai as one of the "greatest tragedies of modern times".

Searches are under way to find the 18 crew believed to be on the submarine when the explosion occurred.

INS Sindhurakshak was being crewed by a reduced number of personnel prior to the explosion as the submarine normally operates with a crew of 45.

India's defence minister has confirmed that there has been "a loss of life" after an explosion on board a navy submarine in Mumbai. The minister did not give any further details reports Associated Press.

Rescue teams say a fire on board the Indian submarine INS Sindhurakshak has been extinguished.

Scuba divers are searching the damaged sub for 18 crew who were believed to be on board the vessel when it exploded early on Wednesday morning.

Eyewitnesses have told local media they heard a "rocket-like sound, like a jet engine" followed by the blast.

Sailors on ships moored next to a submarine which exploded in the port of Mumbai are receiving hospital treatment, after they were injured jumping into the sea following the blast, an Indian navy official has told Associated Press.

The official said that several crews from nearby units "jumped into the sea in panic" after the explosion.

The official it was still unclear whether the crew of the submarine were injured or had been killed.

Amateur video appears to show a large fireball over the navy dock where an Indian diesel-electric submarine was reportedly exploded and sunk at a dock in Mumbai.

At least 18 sailors are believed to be trapped after an explosion and fire on board an Indian submarine berthed off Mumbai city.

An operation is underway to rescue the sailors inside the INS Sindhurakshak, the navy said, adding the explosion was likely an accident.

An Indian navy submarine with about 18 sailors on board caught fire after an explosion and sank at its home port in Mumbai, the Associated Press reports.

Navy spokesman Narendra Vispute said efforts were being made to ascertain the safety of the personnel and salvage the diesel and electricity powered submarine.

Indian news channel NDTV said a loud explosion was heard and a huge flame leapt up in the sky. Nearly a dozen fire engines rushed to the dockyard to douse the fire, it said.

Mr Vispute said the cause of the explosion is being investigated.