Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, Rakesh Pal, died of a severe cardiac arrest in Chennai. He was 59. He was in Chennai to participate in the Coast Guard function led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Who was Rakesh Pal?
Rakesh Pal, was a flag officer of the Indian Coast Guard. He served as the 25th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard. Pal hailed from Uttar Pradesh. After his schooling, he attended the Indian Naval Academy and joined the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in January 1989
His Service
He had worked with the Coast Guard for 34 years and became the Director General in July last year. He was honoured with the Vishist Seva medal for his tremendous contribution to the modernisation and development of the Indian Coast Guard.
About Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is a maritime law enforcement and search and rescue agency of India with jurisdiction over its territorial waters including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone. It was started on 1 February 1977 and formally established on 18 August 1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India. It operates under the Ministry of Defence.
Work with the Indian Navy
The Coast Guard works in close cooperation with the Indian Navy, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Revenue (Customs), and the Central Armed Police Forces, and the State Police Services.