Ahmedabad: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) suffered a fatal mishap when an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK-III, bearing frame number CG 863, crashed into the sea while on a medical evacuation operation.
On September 2, at 11.15 p.m., the helicopter responded to an emergency call to remove a badly injured crew member from the Motor Tanker Hari Leela.
The search efforts, led by the ICG, have been stepped up with the participation of the Indian Navy and other marine partners. The fuselage of the fallen helicopter is also being sought to aid in an investigation of the tragedy.
“We are deploying two aircraft and four ships for an intensive search operation. We have requested the Indian Navy’s assistance, with a vessel equipped with side-scan sonar technology expected to join the mission soon,” officials shared.
The chopper was carrying four people when it crashed: two pilots and two aircrew divers. Following the incident, the ICG conducted an extensive search and rescue operation. One crew member has been located and rescued, while two others did not survive. Their remains have been recovered from the sea, and they will be cremated with military honours in accordance with service traditions.
The deceased have been identified as Commandant (Junior Grade) Vipin Babu and Pradhan Navik Karan Singh. A formal board of inquiry has been formed to investigate the cause of the incident. The mortal remains of Commandant Babu from Alappuzha, Kerala, and Pradhan Navik Karan Singh from Jhajjar, Haryana, have been returned to their families for final rites.
Search attempts are still ongoing to find Commandant Rakesh Kumar Rana, TM, who was the helicopter’s pilot at the time of the tragedy.
Side-scan sonar devices create images of broad seafloor areas, making it possible to detect submerged items. The Coast Guard has also sought assistance from the Gujarat Fisheries Department and local fishermen in the search.
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–IANS
Photo Credit: Xinhua/Sputnik (sxk/IANS)
Photo is representative
