ONGC buys rescue choppers for Mumbai High

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) got its first search and rescue (SAR) helicopter Dhruv on Thursday. The chopper, which was commissioned at the ONGC Helibase in Mumbai, has been developed by Hindustan Aeronautical (HAL).

Dhruv is known for its high safety record, which is why ONGC bought it. The chopper, which was developed after ONGC signed an MoU with HAL in May this year, is the first in a series of three helicopters. ONGC will receive other two choppers by November this year.

"We learn new lessons from each disaster. This safety measure has been taken to handle any such disaster in the future. Money is not the problem but each life is priceless," said Subir Raha, chairman and managing director, ONGC.

Dhruv is a multi-role, multi-mission new generation helicopter. Designed to meet the requirements of both civil and military operations, it is versatile in applications under adverse atmospheric conditions.

Commuter transport, search and rescue, disaster relief, offshore operations, emergency medical services and carriage of under slung load are the roles the aircraft is envisaged to perform. It is a 13-seater 2-crew aircraft and has a maximum cruise speed of 245 kmph.

The deal is worth Rs 110 crore. "The value of our business lies in risk management, and such a versatile machine will indeed be helping us," said Raha.

"Oil is an inflammable substance and there are always fire and other hazards. Having such rescue aircrafts will assure all our offshore associates that in any kind of emergency every possible action will be taken to help them," Raha added.