NEW DELHI — Amid an increasing number of helicopter crashes, India’s air safety regulator has issued several stringent measures, including instituting a mandatory breathalyzer test for pilots before takeoff. “It will be ensured that doctors are available at the helipads prior to commencement of operations of helicopter services and the doctors shall be fully conversant with the breath analyzer equipment and procedures to be followed,” an official of India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) says.

NEW DELHI — A Russian-made Kilo class submarine operated by the Indian navy caught fire after a massive explosion and sank in the dockyard in Mumbai, marking one of the worst-ever disasters for the country’s submarine program. The explosion and fire took place aboard the INS Sindhurakshak with about 18 people on board shortly after midnight Aug. 14, a defense ministry spokesman says.

NEW DELHI — India’s defense ministry says the Indian air force (IAF) has not yet made any formal request to buy more Swiss-made Pilatus PC-7 MK2 trainers instead of waiting for the country’s indigenous basic trainer aircraft (BTA) project to deliver. “As far as the ministry of defense is concerned, that project [the Indian-made BTA] is still on,” Defense Minister A.K. Antony says.