Date:13/08/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/08/13/stories/2003081304111100.htm

National

DGCA begins probe

By Arunkumar Bhatt

NEW DELHI AUG. 12. The Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Ram Naik, today announced an independent inquiry into the crash. At a press conference here, he said that a contingency plan had been drawn up to keep supply lines going if ONGC employees go on a strike from tomorrow.

"A three-member committee, appointed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, will hold an independent inquiry into the crash of helicopter," Mr. Naik said. The committee would submit its report within three months and examine in detail the safety aspects in offshore operations, air logistics, maintenance and renovation of offshore structures, pipelines and hiring of helicopters.

The ONGC had been asked to draw up an emergency plan to further strengthen safety measures for air transportation in the offshore fields to make them comparable with global standards and submit its report within 15 days. The total compensation for the families of the crash victims would be between Rs. 19 lakhs and Rs. 28 lakhs. Besides, one family member of each deceased would be employed by the ONGC.

The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Satinder Singh, and the Deputy Director, V. K. Chandna, visited the site of the crash today. However, any light on the cause of the mishap can be thrown only after the recovery of the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. Mr. Chandna, appointed Inspector of Accidents for carrying out the investigation, will submit a preliminary report to the DGCA within a week. The final report has to be submitted within eight weeks.

The Civil Aviation Minister, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, has asked the Joint Secretary in the Ministry, Raghu Menon, to rush to Mumbai to coordinate and assist in the search and rescue operations. Mr. Rudy has also directed the DGCA to strengthen the safety standards for such operations.

Meanwhile, ONGC said that Mi-172 helicopter was manufactured on September 25, 1995 and the last major inspection on it was carried out on March 26 this year and certificate of air-worthiness issued by DGCA had its validity till March 30, 2004. The helicopter was also inspected by Russian manufacturer's representatives in the first week of April. Since the renewal of certificate of air-worthiness, the helicopter had flown 157 sorties totalling nearly 246 hours.