All you need to know about DG Rakesh Pal who passed away while serving as ICG Chief

New Delhi: It was not an ordinary Sunday for ICG. Defence minister Rajnath Singh was slated to inaugurate its new state-of-the-art Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre building in Chennai. Senior officers of Ministry of Defence, ICG & Armed Forces, dignitaries from State governments, and guests from friendly countries were there to attend the event. However, the ICG Chief was missing from the scene.

The Coast Guard Director General Rakesh Pal had arrived the Tamil Nadu capital on Sunday morning in good health. However, in the afternoon he suffered a heart attack. The ICG Chief was rushed to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) around 2.30 pm, but he died without responding to the treatment around 7 pm.

Later, Defence Minister visited the hospital to pay his rich tributes.

Rakesh Pal was appointed as the 25th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in July last year.

He was an alumnus of the Indian Naval Academy and joined the Indian Coast Guard in January 1989.

He underwent professional specialisation in Gunnery & Weapons Systems at Indian Naval School Dronacharya, Kochi, and an Electro-Optics Fire Control Solution course from the United Kingdom. The Officer holds the recognition of being the First Gunner of ICG.

In his distinguished career spanning over 34 years, the flag officer held several key appointments, prominent among them were Commander Coast Guard Region (North West), Gandhinagar, Deputy Director General (Policy & Plans), and Additional Director General Coast Guard at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi. Besides, he also held various prestigious staff assignments viz. Director (Infra & Works) and Principal Director (Administration) at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi.

Pal was elevated to the rank of Additional Director General in February 2022 and was posted at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi.

He was given the additional charge of Director General Coast Guard in February 2023. During the period, many significant operations and exercises were accomplished that includes the seizure of drugs/narcotic substances and gold worth crores of rupees, rescue of mariners during severe cyclonic storms, joint exercises with the Foreign Coast Guards, anti-poaching operations, humanitarian assistance during cyclones/ naturals calamities and Coastal Security exercises.

Pal was conferred with Tatrakshak Medal in 2013 and President Tatrakshak Medal in 2018 for his illustrious service.

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