In the maritime domain of Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, the recently acquired Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) by the Indian Navy exhibited its prowess by uncovering the remnants of PNS Ghazi, a Pakistani submarine that met its demise off the coastal waters of Vishakhapatnam during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
This significant revelation emanated from a high-ranking official within the Submarine Rescue Department.
“The Ghazi fragments have been successfully identified with the aid of the DSRV. They repose beneath the sea’s surface, a scant few nautical miles from the Visakhapatnam coast. In accordance with naval protocol, these remnants, out of reverence for the fallen heroes of war, have been left undisturbed. Their location appears to be submerged at a depth of 100 meters in the sea waters, positioned 2-2.5 kilometers away from the shoreline,” conveyed a senior officer of the Submarine Rescue Department.
The average sea depth in Vishakhapatnam stands at 16 meters, allowing submarines to navigate in proximity to the coastline. It was under similar conditions in 1971 that PNS Ghazi approached the Visakhapatnam shore.
A tragic incident unfolded in 2013 when INS Sindhrakshak met with an accident resulting in the loss of 13 lives. Post this calamity, in 2018, the DSRV technology was introduced for the first time with the intention of employing it to identify distressed ships and submarines and execute rescue missions. Remarkably, the DSRV is proficient in operating at depths reaching 650 meters. India is directing its efforts towards the indigenous production of two additional vessels of this kind at the Hindustan Shipyard in Vishakhapatnam.