A Marine Commando (MARCOS) of the Indian Navy died on Wednesday morning during free-fall parachute training in West Bengal during a training exercise. 

The 31-year-old Petty Officer carried out a para-jump from a military transport aircraft in Panagarh when the accident took place as the parachute reportedly failed to open. 

His emergency or the back-up parachute also reportedly did not function properly.  The Navy has ordered a mandatory enquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident.

The deceased was identified as Chandaka Govind, a native of Andhra Pradesh.  He was attached to INS Karna, a MARCOS base in Visakhapatnam. 

“Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and all personnel of IndianNavy pay tribute to Chandaka Govind, Petty Officer who lost his life whilst undergoing training exercise at Panagarh on 05 Apr 23 and extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family,” a Navy tweet said.

The commando reportedly jumped out of a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft during a routine exercise.  These planes stationed at Air Force base Arjan Singh, Panagarh, are used for training of the Special Forces commando units of the Army, Navy and IAF. 

The body was reportedly found outside a factory in Barjora, Bankura district.  It is about 50 kms from Panagarh.

In a free-fall parachute jump, the commando jumps from the aircraft ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 feet and opens the parachute very late.  The para drops take place far away from the target or the drop zone and the commando deploys the parachute when closing in, source said. These drills are undertaken to hone the skills of the Special Forces to land at the designated place after the free-fall, they added.

The MARCOS is the elite Special Forces of the Indian Navy and some of its highly trained commandos are also deployed in regions like Jammu and Kashmir.  These commandos are trained in parachute jumping, deep sea diving and other related skills required for these kinds of high risk operations behind enemy lines.