Chennai: Indian Coast Guard (ICG) chief Rakesh Pal died of cardiac arrest here on Sunday.
Pal took charge as 25th Director General of ICG on July 19, 2023.
Scheduled to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at an ICG event, Pal was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital earlier in the day after complaining of uneasiness, officials said.
After news of Pal’s demise broke, Rajnath rushed to the hospital to pay his last respects from a Tamil Nadu government event to release a commemorative coin on the Late M Karunanidhi’s birth centenary,
Pal served several key posts – like Commander of Coast Guard Region (North West), Deputy Director General (Policy and Plans) and Additional Director General at ICG Headquarters in Delhi — in a distinguished career spanning over 34 years.
He also held various prestigious staff assignments such as Director (Infra and Works) and Principal Director (Administration) at ICG headquarters.
Pal had vast sea experience and commanded all classes of ICG ships, as well as two Coast Guard Bases in forward Gujarat areas Okha and Vadinar.
Elevated to the rank of Additional Director General in February 2022, Pal was appointed as Additional Director General last year.
ICG carried out many major operations and exercises under his supervision, including seizure of drugs and narcotic substances and gold worth crores of rupees.
