Tragedy Strikes as Coast Guard Helicopter Crashes in Porbandar, Gujarat

Porbandar, Jan 5 (NationPress) An Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) of the Indian Coast Guard tragically crashed in Gujarat's Porbandar on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of all three crew members aboard, as confirmed by a high-ranking police official.

The helicopter erupted in flames upon impact, and the identities of the victims are still being verified.

This unfortunate incident took place during a standard sortie at the Indian Coast Guard's Air Enclave. The helicopter, known as the ALH Dhruv, fell into an open field before igniting.

The reason behind the crash is currently unclear, and an investigation has been launched to uncover the details surrounding this disaster.

Eyewitnesses recorded visuals of the flaming wreckage, and early reports suggest that multiple individuals sustained injuries in the incident.

Providing insights into the situation, Porbandar Superintendent of Police (SP) Bhagirath Singh Jadeja stated, "This accident occurred during routine operations as the helicopter was landing on the runway. Three individuals were aboard the helicopter. All three were rescued and taken to the hospital, but unfortunately, they could not be saved. This was a lightweight helicopter operated by the Coast Guard."

Similar accidents involving the ALH Dhruv helicopters have been reported previously with the Indian Coast Guard, which is tasked with maritime law enforcement and search-and-rescue missions within the country's territorial waters.

Just four months ago, in September, another Coast Guard ALH MK-III helicopter crashed into the Arabian Sea near the Porbandar coast while attempting to evacuate an injured crew member.

While two crew members' bodies were recovered, a month-long search took place to find the pilot, Rakesh Kumar Rana, whose body was ultimately discovered in October off the coast of Gujarat.

This recent crash raises new alarms regarding the reliability of the ALH Dhruv fleet, which is utilized by the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Two years ago, design and metallurgy issues were identified in specific components of the helicopter.

A safety audit was implemented following a series of accidents, leading to the temporary grounding of the fleet for thorough technical assessments.

The ALH Dhruv fleet, consisting of over 325 helicopters across various military branches, resumed operations after successfully passing the safety audit. However, incidents like this continue to raise concerns about the dependability of the aircraft.

More information regarding the Porbandar crash is expected as officials strive to reconstruct the timeline of events that resulted in this tragedy.