Tragic Helicopter Crash Claims Lives of Three Indian Coast Guard Crew in Porbandar, Gujarat

Porbandar (Gujarat), Jan 5 (NationPress) An Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) met with a fatal accident in Gujarat's Porbandar on Sunday, resulting in the loss of all three crew members on board, according to a senior police official.

The helicopter erupted into flames upon impact. The identities of the deceased individuals are still being determined.

This tragic incident took place during a routine flight at the Air Enclave of the Indian Coast Guard. The helicopter, known as an ALH Dhruv, fell into an open field before igniting.

The specific cause of the crash is currently unknown, and an investigation has been launched to uncover the events leading to this disaster.

Witnesses managed to capture footage of the blazing wreckage, while preliminary reports suggest that several individuals sustained injuries during the incident.

Porbandar SP Bhagirath Singh Jadeja stated: "This accident occurred during regular operations when the helicopter was landing on the runway. There were three individuals on board, all of whom were rescued and transported to the hospital; however, unfortunately, none could be saved. This was a lightweight helicopter of the Coast Guard."

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

Just four months ago, in September, another Coast Guard ALH MK-III helicopter crashed into the Arabian Sea off the Porbandar coast while on a mission to evacuate an injured crew member from a tanker.

While the bodies of two crew members were recovered, an extensive month-long search was required to locate the pilot, Rakesh Kumar Rana, whose remains were eventually found off the Gujarat coast in October.

This latest crash raises renewed concerns regarding the ALH Dhruv fleet, operated by the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Two years ago, certain design and metallurgy flaws were identified in components of the helicopter.

A safety audit was conducted following several accidents, leading to a temporary grounding of the fleet for thorough technical evaluations.

The ALH Dhruv fleet, which includes over 325 helicopters across various military branches, resumed operations after successfully passing the safety audit. However, incidents like this continue to cast doubts on the reliability of the aircraft.

More information regarding the Porbandar crash is pending as officials strive to reconstruct the timeline of events that led to this tragedy.