The possibility of Indian naval personnel's presence on board the accident-hit Russian K-152 Nerpa nuclear attack submarine has not been ruled out by the Russian experts amid reports that the vessel was to be transferred to India after current sea trials.

At the time of mishap, in which 20 people including 17 civilian technicians, were killed and 21 injured due to abrupt release of deadly Freon gas, there were 208 people on board the Nerpa (Akula-II) sub to be leased to India for 10 years, while its regular crew is under 80.

"The Indian Navy, which was to get the submarine some time next year, was monitoring its completion at the shipyard in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and trials of its various systems at all stages, and their presence on board during trials was quite possible," a Russian expert said on condition of anonymity.

He said that at least in the past Indian teams had been on board the vessels ordered by them.

Russia [Images] has been keeping the nuclear submarine lease deal under wraps, unlike Indian diplomatic and naval officials, who said it was part of the Gorshkov package signed in January 2004.

"Indian Navy officials are already there in Russia monitoring the submarine project -- both during its construction phase and now during the sea trial phase. So we are keeping a close watch on the developments," according to Indian Navy officials.

A local daily close to the Kremlin on Wednesday reported that the nuclear submarine was to be leased to India and an agreement to this effect was to be signed after the completion of trials.

Experts said that in his first official statement on the accident on Sunday, Russian Naval spokesman Igor Dygalo had mentioned 'more than 20 dead'.

But, they noted that after some time the number was changed to exactly 20 and their names published, which comprised three Russian naval personnel and 17 technical staff of the shipyard and subcontractors.

The experts said the final answer to this question can only be given by the Indian navy.

However, the Vremya Novostyei daily disputed this saying that Indian naval personnel could not be present on board the submarine without a formal agreement on the lease being concluded.

Image: A video grab from Russian NTV channel shows the Russian nuclear submarine being manouvered at the navy base of Bolshoi Kamen.
Photograph: NTV/AFP/Getty Images

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