- The mortal remains will be cremated as per service traditions and honour
- ICG pays tribute to the three brave personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty
NE NEWS SERVICE
GANDHINAGAR, OCT 11
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Friday announced that the mortal remains of a missing pilot has been recovered on Thursday from the Arabian sea bed. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) helicopter had crashed into the Arabian Sea off Porbandar coast on September 2.
“ICG ALH MK-III helicopter bearing frame No. CG 863 had ditched at sea on 02 Sep 24 at 2315 hrs. The ICG helicopter had 02 Pilots and 02 Air Crew Divers and was on Medevac mission to evacuate a seriously injured crew member from Motor Tanker Hari Leela,” an ICG release said.
“Post accident, ICG launched a massive search and rescue operation, during which one crew was rescued from sea. Further, mortal remains of Commandant (JG) Vipin Babu and Karan Singh, Pradhan Navik were recovered from sea on 03 Sep 24,” the statement added.
ICG along with Indian Navy and other stakeholders continued unrelenting search efforts to locate the remaining crew, Commandant Rakesh Kumar Rana, who was the Pilot in Command of the mission. As part of the continuous search efforts by ICG and IN ships in area, more than 70 air sorties and 82 ship days involving several ships were tasked for locating the missing pilot.
The Indian Coast Guard announced that the body was recovered from the sea on October 10, approximately 55 km southwest of Porbandar. The discovery marks the conclusion of an extensive search operation following last month’s helicopter crash.
In a statement, the ICG confirmed that Rana’s mortal remains will be cremated with full military honors, adhering to service traditions. They also paid tribute to the three brave personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty.
