Rajasthan MARCOS Commando Tragically Dies in Mumbai Boat Incident
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Jaipur, December 19 (NationPress) A MARCOS commando from Rajasthan is among the victims who lost their lives on December 18, according to an official statement released on Thursday.
One of the deceased is Mahendra Singh Shekhawat, a MARCOS Commando who originated from Rajasthan.
The 34-year-old MARCOS commando was a resident of Junsia village in Kishangarh.
The commando's body is expected to return to his hometown late on Thursday night, where it will be transported to Junsia in Renwal for his last rites, which will be conducted with full state honors on Friday.
The MARCOS unit is recognized as one of India’s elite and highly trained commando forces.
Komal Yadav, the Tehsildar of Renwal, confirmed that Shekhawat was from Junsia village.
Shekhawat was merely two months away from retirement.
The tragic incident occurred on December 18 when a Navy patrol speedboat collided with the 'Neelkamal' boat near Butcher Island in the Arabian Sea.
A total of thirteen individuals, including Mahendra Singh Shekhawat, a highly decorated commando, lost their lives in this unfortunate accident.
Shekhawat married Usha Kanwar in 2010 and is survived by two daughters – a ten-year-old who is in sixth grade and a five-year-old named Yugantika Shekhawat, who is in Class 1.
The news of Mahendra Singh Shekhawat's passing has plunged his village and surrounding regions into profound mourning.
His sacrifice will be remembered with great respect during the state-led final rites on Friday, as stated by a local resident.
According to officials, Shekhawat was operating the Navy boat as part of the crew when the incident occurred at sea.
His remains will arrive at Jaipur Airport on Thursday night for transport to his hometown.
Final rites will be held on Friday, as confirmed by Col Amitabh Sharma, PRO, Defence, Jaipur, Rajasthan.
On Thursday, Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, the Chief of Naval Staff, and the Indian Navy expressed their condolences to the grieving families of the victims who perished in the naval speedboat and passenger ferry collision in the Arabian Sea, while search operations continue for two missing individuals.
The Indian Navy has initiated a Board of Inquiry to investigate the mid-sea accident and to ascertain the facts surrounding the incident, in which a speedboat undergoing engine trials malfunctioned and collided with a passenger ferry carrying over 100 tourists.
The calamity took place approximately 5 km off the Gateway of India, resulting in four fatalities among the six personnel in the naval speedboat and nine civilians who were aboard the private boat, 'Neelkamal', en route to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Elephanta Isles.
