Special Forces’ Captain Ankit Gupta remains missing, search on at Jodhpur lake | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Special Forces’ Captain Ankit Gupta remains missing, search on at Jodhpur lake

Hindustan Times, Jodhpur/Jaipur | ByJaykishan Sharma & Dinesh Bothra | Edited by Abhinav Sahay
Jan 08, 2021 08:51 PM IST

10 Para personnel initially tried to locate Captain Gupta but informed their seniors after they failed. Search operations were carried out throughout Friday with no luck.

Five rescue teams, including from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), continue to search for 10 Para (Special Forces) Captain Ankit Gupta, who drowned during a training exercise at Takhat Sagar Lake in Jodhpur on Thursday.

Captain Gupta is the commander of 10 Para Special Forces. Search continues for him at the lake.(Courtesy- Twitter)
Captain Gupta is the commander of 10 Para Special Forces. Search continues for him at the lake.(Courtesy- Twitter)

Captain Gupta is the commander of 10 Para Special Forces, which was selected as the best unit of the year (2020) in the Indian Army. As a part of a drill, he jumped from a helicopter into the Takhat Sagar reservoir on Thursday. Three other commandos also jumped with him, but Captain Ankit could not come out.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The army’s search operation in the lake started Thursday afternoon but had to be halted after dark.

“The teams of NDRF, SDRF, civil defence and army are continuously searching for the submerged captain, but he is still missing. As part of the exercise, some jawans jumped into the lake from the helicopter to improve their skills in rescuing drowned people,” said SHO Jaikishan Soni.

He added that 10 Para personnel initially tried to locate Captain Gupta but informed their seniors after they failed. Search operations were carried out throughout Friday with no luck.

During the exercise, the commandos of the 10 Para had to throw their boats in the water and jump from a helicopter.

“After this, they were to attack the enemy by riding on a boat. Under this mission, four commandos led by captain Ankit threw their boat first into the Takhat Sagar reservoir and then jumped into the water themselves. Three commandos reached the boat, but Captain Ankit could not. After waiting a bit, the commandos started searching for him,” said a senior police official from Jodhpur.

28-year-old Ankit, a resident of Gurugram, got married less than two months ago on November 23, 2020.

“His passion for the army can be gauged from the fact that he stayed with his wife for a very little period after marriage and returned to complete his special training,” the police official said.

The unit, famously known as the Desert Scorpions, is among the most battle hardened units of the Indian Army.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On