DHAKA: Navy chief Admiral DK Joshi on Wednesday resigned after two officers were feared killed and seven sailors injured when a fire erupted on board a submarine, INS Sindhuratna, around 40 nautical miles off Mumbai.

Taking moral responsibility for the accidents and incidents which have taken place during the past few months, the Navy chief has resigned, reports The Times of India.

The government has accepted the resignation of Admiral Joshi with immediate effect.

Navy vice-chief Vice Admiral RK Dhowan will be discharging the duties of officiating Navy chief, pending the appointment of a regular chief, said a defence ministry statement.

In the mishap, the Navy said the two officers, a lieutenant Commander and a lieutenant, both from the electrical branch, were ‘still to be accounted for’, while the seven sailors were airlifted by Sea King helicopters to INS Ashwini hospital at Colaba.

‘The sailors fell unconscious on inhaling the heavy smoke engulfing the submarine`s third compartment. They are now stable,’ said an officer.

An upset defence ministry sought a detailed report from the Navy since this is the second major accident in the country’s ageing submarine fleet in the last six months, which has further dented India’s underwater combat arm.

BDST: 2009 HRS, FEB 26, 2014