Coast Guard official commended for bravery

An Indian Coast Guard official has been commended by the International Maritime Organisation for displaying exceptional bravery while carrying out firefighting operations on board a merchant vessel and avoiding a pollution incident in the process.
This is the first time that an Indian mariner has received bravery commendation from the United Nations subsidiary.
"Uttam Adhikari Mahavir Singh has been commended by the International Maritime Organisation for display of exceptional bravery at sea while assisting in the firefighting operations on board merchant vessel Mol Comfort, thus avoiding a pollution incident," a Coast Guard release said.
In the operations, Singh also evacuated an injured crew member from a Shipping Corporation of India vessel 'Tug Urja' which was towing Mol Comfort without any regard to his personal wellbeing.

He also rescued two fellow crew members who were thrown into the sea by violent waves from the inflatable boat of ICGS Samudra Prahri, which was engaged in the firefighting operation.
On June 17, merchant vessel Mol Comfort, en route from Singapore to Jeddah, was experiencing flooding onboard due to a crack in her hull.
"The ship broke in two parts and both parts were reported to be adrift. ICG took over the operation in deep Arabian Sea at about 900 km away from Indian coast with several of its ships and aircraft," the release said.
The Coast Guard has saved 6402 lives and conducted 3687 ship and air sorties for search and rescue operations since its inception in 1978.