NEW DELHI: A Marine Commando of the Indian Navy died on Wednesday morning during free-fall parachute training in West Bengal during a training exercise.
The 31-year-old Petty Officer carried out a para-jump from a military transport aircraft in Panagarh when the accident happened as the parachute failed to open, as per reports.
The reports add, his backup or emergency parachute did not work properly. In order to determine the reason for the disaster, the Navy has mandated an investigation.
The deceased was identified as Chandaka Govind, a native of Andhra Pradesh, who was attached to INS Karna, a Marine Commando base in Vizag.
“Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and all personnel of IndianNavy paid tribute to Chandaka Govind, Petty Officer who died whilst undergoing training exercise at Panagarh on 05 April 23 and extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family,” a Navy tweet said.
During a normal drill, the commando reportedly leaped out of a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. The Special Forces commando battalions of the Army, Navy, and IAF are trained on this aircraft at Air Force Base Arjan Singh in Panagarh.
The body was reportedly seen outside a factory in Barjora, Bankura district. It is about 50 kms from Panagarh.
The commando dives from an aeroplane at a height of between 15,000 and 30,000 feet while using a free-fall parachute, and the parachute deploys very slowly. The commando opens the parachute as they come closer, according to a source, and the para drops happen far from the target or the drop zone. They continued, saying that the purpose of these drills is to improve the Special Forces' ability to land in the intended location after a free fall.
The Marine Commando is the Indian Navy's elite Special Forces, and some of its well-trained commandos are currently stationed in places like Jammu and Kashmir. These commandos have received training in deep water diving, parachute jumping, and other specialised techniques needed for high-risk operations behind enemy lines.
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