Mumbai, Aug 15 (IANS): Indian Navy divers are yet to trace the 18 sailors and officers trapped in the submarine that sank here after explosions and a raging fire, the defence ministry said Thursday.

"Efforts continue round the clock to ascertain their status. The trapped personnel have not yet been sighted or recovered," a statement from the ministry said.

The divers’ efforts were seriously hampered by poor visibility inside the INS Sindhurakshak as the submarine was filled with water, it said.

Most of its equipment had also got displaced from their original location.

The heat of the explosion had melted parts of the internal hull, deforming the submarine hatches and preventing access to various compartments.

Heavy duty pumps were being used to pump out seawater from the vessel.

The cause of the explosions and fire which consumed the submarine within six hours was still not clear -- nearly 36 hours after the disaster.

The defence ministry has ordered an inquiry into the incident.