Coast Guard base at Ratnagiri gets two advanced helicopters

The Coast Guard base at Ratnagiri in Konkan on Saturday received two advanced light helicopters (ALH). Now, six to eight pilots will be stationed at the base, said officials.

“During the flood last July, the Coast Guard could not respond immediately, as it had no helicopter or plane stationed at Ratnagiri or Mumbai. Now, we can immediately respond in case of a crisis in Ratnagiri, Raigad and Sindhudurg. Earlier, planes or helicopters had to be sent from Daman or Goa in case of a crisis here,” said a senior officer.

The base at Ratnagiri was planned in 2005 and things gathered momentum after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.