Chandigarh: The intensive search and rescue operation for ace Indian rally driver Hari Singh, 59, has taken a somber turn. On the second day of operations following Thursday’s speedboat accident in the Maldives, authorities have informed the family that the bodies of Hari Singh and the boat’s captain are believed to be trapped deep within a coral reef.Specialized search teams are now preparing to descend to the site to retrieve them.The news has sent shockwaves through the motorsport community and Hari Singh’s alma mater, The Lawrence School, Sanawar. Hari Singh, a towering figure in Indian racing and the first Indian to clinch the Asia Zone Rally Championship, had been missing since the vessel overturned near Vaavu Atoll.Hari Singh’s son, Mivaan Singh, who had rushed to the Maldives to oversee the rescue efforts, is reportedly returning to India to be with his mother and sister as the family prepares for the difficult days ahead.In his stead, Hari Singh’s close friends, Jagwant and Daman, have stayed back in the Maldives. They remain in constant coordination with the Maldivian authorities and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) to facilitate the recovery process.At Sanawar, the Class of 1985 is mourning a man they remembered as an unstoppable force. “As his junior, I remember him as a true rally enthusiast,” recalled Durgesh Tuknayat (OS 1986). “He once sneaked out of school just to watch the Himalayan Car Rally at Dharampur. He was always a fighter.”Preeti Pariat, a batchmate who met Hari Singh as recently as October during their 40-year reunion, described him as a man with a “big heart” who excelled in every endeavour.The tragedy has also sparked concerns regarding safety protocols during the excursion. In a post on X, Chandigarh-based rally driver Rattan Dhillon highlighted the lack of immediate information and safety equipment. “We’re also hearing that there were no life jackets on the boat,” he added.Within the professional circuit, Raj Kapoor, director at the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), said Hari Singh was an exceptional man be it his transition from a champion driver to a visionary for the JK Tyre Motorsport programme.
