ICG Chief Rakesh Pal passed away in Chennai on Sunday and The Indian Army deeply mourns the passing of General Sundararajan Padmanabhan (Retired), who served as the 20th COAS.
Former Army Chief & Current DG ICG Passes Away
Following the sudden demise of Rakesh Pal, the Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and Indian Air Force personnel extended their heartfelt condolences on Monday. ICG Chief Rakesh Pal passed away in Chennai on Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was taken to Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in the city after feeling unwell. Despite receiving immediate treatment, he could not be saved. DG Rakesh Pal was appointed as the 25th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard in July last year.
Rajnath Singh, who also attended a Tamil Nadu government event to release a commemorative coin on DMK leader late M Karunanidhi’s birth centenary, rushed to the hospital to pay his respects to Rakesh Pal. In his distinguished career spanning over 34 years, the Flag Officer had held several key appointments on the sea and ashore. Prominent among them were the Commander of Coast Guard Region (North West), Deputy Director General (Policy and Plans), and Additional Director General at Coast Guard Headquarters in Delhi.
He also held various prestigious staff assignments namely Director (Infra and Works) and Principal Director (Administration) at Coast Guard headquarters. Rakesh Pal was known for having vast sea experience and commanded all classes of ICG ships, namely Samarth, Vijit, Sucheta Kriplani, Ahalyabai, and C-03. The officer also commanded two Coast Guard Bases in forward areas in Gujarat — Okha and Vadinar.
Indian Army Mourns The Loss Of Gen Padmanabhan
The Indian Army deeply mourns the passing of General Sundararajan Padmanabhan (Retired), who served as the 20th COAS. The Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi and all ranks of the Indian Army offer their tribute and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Born on December 5, 1940, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala; General Padmanabhan was a distinguished alumnus of the RIMC, Dehradun, and the NDA, Khadakwasla.
He was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery on December 13, 1959, marking the beginning of an illustrious career spanning over four decades. On September 1, 1996, General Padmanabhan took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command and later, the Southern Command. He assumed the office of the Chief of Army Staff on October 1, 2000.
Known affectionately as “Paddy” among his peers, General Padmanabhan’s legacy is marked by his commitment to the welfare of soldiers, modernisation of the Indian Army and strategic vision. He was also an Honorary ADC to the President of India. General Padmanabhan led the Indian Army during the crucial period of ‘Operation PARAKRAM’. He retired on December 31, 2002, after 43 years of exemplary service.
