boot fails with exec of init failed and kernel panic

Solution Unverified - Updated -

Issue

  • System fails to boot up with errors

     exec of init (/sbin/init) failed!!!: 2
     umount /initrd/dev failed: 2
     kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill init!
    
  • Running rescue mode and system partition is mounted on /mnt/sysimage but

chroot to /mnt/sysimage failes with

 cannot run command '/bin/sh' : no such file or directory
  • There is not /bin directory under /mnt/sysimage.

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5

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