3 Indian coast guard pilots are missing after the helicopter makes an emergency landing in Arabian Sea.
Sources say that the incident occurred when the helicopter was approaching the vessel for evacuation.
The Indian coast guards have initiated a massive search and rescue operation team after the helicopter had to make an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea off the Porbandar coast during a rescue operation on Monday, along with four air crew and two pilots.
One diver has been recovered but the search for the other diver and the two pilots is still in process.
“Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) which saved 67 lives during recent cyclonic weather in Gujarat was launched around 2300 hours yesterday for medical evacuation of a seriously injured crew onboard Indian Flagged Motor Tanker Hari Leela, about 45 kms from Porbandar into the sea, in response to a request received from the Master of the vessel,” the Indian Coast Guard said in a statement.
They further added, “ICG ALH helicopter with 4 aircrew onboard, during the said operation reportedly was forced to make an emergency landing at sea. One crew has been recovered and search for the remaining 3 crew is in progress. Aircraft wreckage has been located. The incident happened whilst the helicopter was approaching the vessel for the evacuation. Presently , ICG has pressed 04 ships, and two aircraft for search operation,”
The Indian coast guard rescued 33 people from this terrible situation on the first day of the operation.
On day 2, they rescued another 28 people, which makes a total of 61 people that were saved.
There was a similar incident where the National Disaster Response Force saved 22 people last week, who were trapped in Chachlana village of Kalyanpur.
[Source: The Economics Times]
