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An Indian Coast Guard helicopter had crashed off the coast of Gujarat a month ago. Now the pilot’s body has been found near the coast. Pilot Rakesh Kumar Rana was being searched.
Ankit Ojha LanguageFri, 11 Oct 2024 09:14 AM share
The body of a missing pilot has been found in the Arabian Sea off the Gujarat coast, more than a month after an Indian Coast Guard helicopter crashed. Officials gave this information on Friday.
Three crew members were missing after the ‘ALH MK-III’ helicopter crashed in the Arabian Sea near Porbandar in Gujarat on September 2. Although the bodies of two crew members were later found, the search for the pilot of this mission, Rakesh Kumar Rana, was still going on.
A release issued by the Coast Guard said that Rana’s body was found in the sea on October 10, about 55 km south-west of Porbandar. “The Coast Guard, along with the Indian Navy and other stakeholders, continued relentless efforts to locate Rakesh Kumar Rana, the Pilot-in-Command of the mission,” it said.
The release said, ‘His mortal remains will be cremated as per service traditions and with respect. Salute to the three brave soldiers of the Indian Coast Guard, who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.
It is reported that an advanced light helicopter of the Indian Coast Guard crashed in the Arabian Sea on the night of September 2 while attempting to evacuate an injured crew member aboard the motor tanker ‘Hari Leela’. There were four crew members on board.
Of the four crew members on board the helicopter, one diver, Gautam Kumar, was immediately rescued, while three went missing, the release said. A day later, the bodies of pilot Vipin Babu and diver Karan Singh were discovered, but Rana could not be found. After this a large-scale search operation was conducted.
