New Delhi, Dec. 29 -- President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday undertook a sortie onboard a frontline submarine from the Karwar harbour in Karnataka, witnessing first-hand the prowess and demanding nature of the silent arm of the country's naval power, officials aware of the matter said.

The Supreme Commander's two-hour dived sortie onboard INS Vaghsheer reaffirmed the image of the submarine force as a cornerstone of India's credible deterrence and maritime security, they added. Murmu is the second President to undertake a sortie in a submarine after APJ Abdul Kalam; and the first to be onboard a Kalvari-class diesel-electric attack submarine.

"This maiden embarkation onboard an indigenous Kalvari-class submarine reflects the continued engage...