
The Indian Coast Guard has confirmed the recovery of the body of Commandant Rakesh Rana, who was killed in a helicopter crash in the Arabian Sea on September 2. The remains were retrieved approximately 55 kilometers off the coast of Porbandar during a weeks-long search operation involving multiple ships, aircraft, and specialist divers.
Commandant Rana, aged 38, served as the commanding officer of the coast guard’s 835 Squadron and had logged over 1,900 flying hours. The Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH Mk-III) he piloted was on a medical evacuation mission at the time of the crash. The helicopter was deployed to rescue a seriously injured crew member from the merchant tanker MT Hari Leela.
On the night of the incident, the helicopter, Tail No. CG 863, was launched at approximately 11:00 PM. Just 15 minutes into the flight, it crashed into the Arabian Sea. Following the crash, the coast guard successfully recovered the bodies of the co-pilot, Deputy Commandant Vipin Babu, and diver Karan Singh the day after the incident, while the other flight diver was rescued.
The ministry of defence stated that the recovery of Commandant Rana’s body is a significant step in the ongoing investigation into the crash. “The deep-sea recovery operation was challenging due to the underwater conditions, with depths reaching around 60 meters,” the statement added.
The coast guard has expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased and reiterated its commitment to conducting thorough investigations to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
Sources By Agencies