Three Indian Coast Guard (ICG) crew members are missing after a helicopter, deployed for a rescue mission, made an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea on Monday. The helicopter was dispatched at 11 PM to evacuate a seriously injured crew member from the Motor Tanker Hari Leela, located approximately 45 kilometers off the coast of Gujarat’s Porbandar.
During the mission, the advanced light helicopter, carrying four crew members, was forced to make an “emergency hard landing” and subsequently ditched into the sea. The ICG confirmed that one crew member has been rescued, while the search for the remaining three is ongoing. Wreckage from the aircraft has been located.
On September 2, 2024, the Indian Coast Guard launched the helicopter at 11 PM to carry out the evacuation, but it encountered difficulties leading to the emergency landing. The Coast Guard has deployed four ships and two aircraft for the ongoing rescue operations.
This incident follows closely on the heels of the Coast Guard’s involvement in extensive rescue and relief operations in Gujarat, where heavy rains caused significant flooding. Alongside the ICG, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indian Army, and Indian Air Force have successfully relocated more than 17,000 people from the affected areas.
