India is building its first manned submersible to study the deep sea and conduct a biodiversity assessment, an announcement that comes days after the country successfully landed a spacecraft near the moon's south pole.
The project is another sign that India wants to increase its clout globally as an innovator in science and technology, particularly in space and other unexplored regions.
Kiren Rijiju, the Earth Sciences Minister, posted photos of the submersible on X, saying the mission will send three people to a depth of six kilometres (about four miles), and "will not disturb the ocean ecosystem."
India Today reported that the country expects to complete building the submersible by 2026, and it will have a similar design to Oceangate's Titan, which went missing near the Titanic's resting place in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The US Coast Guard later announced the submersible underwent a catastrophic implosion that killed all five people on board, who were on an expedition to see the Titanic's wreckage. The news forced OceanGate to suspend all explorations and business operations.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
OceanGate's Focus Was "Making Money" Rather Than Security, Says Ex-Employee "All Good Here": Haunting Last Message Before OceanGate's Titan Submersible Imploded Crew Of Doomed Titan Submersible "Knew They Were Going To Die": Lawsuit Trump Hints At Constitution-Breaking 3rd Term As President. Details Here Smog Blanket Over North India, Air Quality Drops To "Severe" Level Melania Trump May Not Move To White House Full Time As First Lady On Rally Stage, A Owaisi Served Notice To Avoid Inflammatory Speech Pregnant Woman Has Narrow Escape As Oxygen Cylinder In Ambulance Explodes Asaduddin Owaisi In Fray For 16 Maharashtra Seats, Hopes To Fare Better Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.