Agra: A commando of Navy’s elite MARCOS force died at Agra’s Airborne Training School Thursday when his parachute got entangled in high-voltage power lines during a jumping exercise.
Petty officer Ankush Sharma was undergoing paratrooping training at the Airborne Training School located inside the Agra Air Force Station. According to sources in the Malpura police station, he was posted in Jammu & Kashmir.
The accident took place in the Malpura drop zone.
On Thursday morning, it is learnt, Sharma jumped from an aircraft with the aid of a parachute. During the final seconds of the jump, he is said to have probably missed spotting the high-voltage power lines.
Adm R Hari Kumar #CNS & all personnel of #IndianNavy pay tribute to Ankush Sharma, Petty Officer who lost his life whilst undergoing training exercise at Agra on 11 May 23 and extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. pic.twitter.com/ImKyY9RXW8
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) May 12, 2023
Farmers working in the fields under the power lines spotted the commando and immediately informed the police. Army personnel reached the spot and the parachute was lowered from the power lines. The commando was immediately taken to the Military Hospital for treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
The Airborne Training School at Agra conducts regular paratrooper training courses for military personnel, and thousands of commandos get trained in para jumps here. Cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, an honorary Lt Col with Territorial Army unit of the Parachute Regiment, completed his paratrooping training here with five parachute jumps at the Malpura drop zone.
Last month, another marine commando of the Navy lost his life while carrying out a parachute jump during training in West Bengal.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
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