The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has initiated a large-scale search operation after one of its Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), with four crew members on board, was forced to make an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea off the Porbandar coast late Monday night. The helicopter was conducting a medical evacuation mission when the incident occurred.
According to an official statement from the ICG, the helicopter was approaching the Indian-flagged Motor Tanker Hari Leela, approximately 45 kilometers from Porbandar, to evacuate a critically injured crew member when it had to perform the emergency landing. The incident has led to the disappearance of two pilots and one diver, while another diver was recovered from the sea. The rescued diver is reported to be in stable condition.
The ICG has deployed four ships and two aircraft in an ongoing search for the missing crew members. The wreckage of the helicopter has been located, but the whereabouts of the missing pilots and diver remain unknown.
This emergency occurred just after the ICG’s helicopter had played a critical role in rescue operations during recent cyclonic weather in Gujarat. The same ALH had successfully saved 61 lives over two days, rescuing individuals from various perilous situations in Porbandar and Dwarka districts amid severe weather conditions.
In a related incident, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescued 22 people last week who had been trapped in floodwaters in Chachlana village, Kalyanpur tehsil, for three days.
The search operation continues as the ICG and other rescue teams work tirelessly to locate the missing personnel and ensure their safe return. The incident highlights the risks faced by rescue teams during critical missions and underscores the importance of swift and coordinated search and rescue efforts in maritime emergencies.
Sources By Agencies