Zee Media Bureau
Mumbai: Lt Commander Kapish Muwal, who died in Sindhuratna submarine disaster, was cremated here with full military honours on Friday evening.
Whereas the body of Lieutenant Commander Manoranjan Kumar, the other officer who died on the same ill-fated vessel two days before, is likely to be taken to his native state Jharkhand tomorrow for cremation.
The body of Munwal, who was the first to spot the fire in the third compartment of the submarine, was taken to Chandanwadi crematorium in central Mumbai after the conventional wreath-laying ceremony.
The body was put in a casket wrapped in a tri-colour. It reached the crematorium around 4 pm and was given guard of honour with about a dozen Navy men firing three rounds in the air.
Munwal`s father and brother, as also his fiancee Mishtu Chawala, were present in the crematorium.
Chawala said she had spoken to Munwal some days before he went on the mission.
"He was sure that nothing will happen to him in the submarine," she said, speaking to reporters, a PTI news said.
She said Kapish had once told her that he would be very proud if he died while on duty.
"He wished to die for the country while on duty so that his body will be draped in the tricolour and guard of honour will be accorded to him," said Chawala.
Chawala also said it was very painful for him when he learnt about the INS Sindhurakshak mishap last year.
The Navy also conducted a wreath laying ceremony in memory of Munwal who lost his life battling the fire in submarine INS Sindhuratna.
Both the Indian Navy officers were found dead in airtight compartment 3 on Thursday after INS Sindhuratna was brought to the naval harbour here.
The Naval Ensign was lowered to half mast "in honour of the sacrifice made by the two officers in the call of duty for the nation".
The compensation of the deceased officers is also being processed by the Defence Ministry and the Indian Navy which will be handed over to their kin.
The brother of one of the two officers, Lt Commander Kapish Muwal, slammed the government saying the tragedy could have been avoided.
All the other crew members, numbering around 94, have also undergone preliminary medical check-ups and their condition is stable.
Of the seven injured, some are being kept under observation at the INHS Asvini for a few days and they will be discharged soon.
The Indian Navy has already launched a high-level inquiry into the disaster that struck INS Sindhuratna early Wednesday.
Smoke had engulfed the compartment 3 in the sailors` accommodation area when the submarine was underwater during a training mission.
Refitted and renovated in Mumbai last December, the INS Sindhuratna was on a routine training exercise to familiarize the crew with operations of the Russian built vessel.
As a direct fall-out of the incident - and around 10 others involving other vessels - Admiral DK Joshi resigned as the Navy chief, owning moral responsibility.
