army helicopter

Itanagar, Oct 21: An army helicopter crashed on Friday in Arunachal Pradesh. The crash was reported in a village in the Upper Siang district. As per the information given by the Indian Army, 2 dead bodies were recovered out of 3 that were seen. Efforts are underway to recover the third body.

“We have initiated search and rescue operations and sent teams to the crash site. No further details on the number of passengers and their condition (are) available yet,” said Shasvat Saurabh, deputy commissioner, Upper Siang district.

While the rescue teams were rushed, the site of the accident is said to be remotely located. “The location of the crash is very remote. The nearest village to the crash site is located around 140 km from the district headquarters Yingkiong. And it takes several hours of trek to reach the crash site. We have dispatched a team to the place. More details will be known once they reach the site,” said Jummar Basar, superintendent of police, Upper Siang.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju posted a video from the accident site. “Received very disturbing news about Indian Army’s Advanced Light Helicopter crash in Upper Siang District in Arunachal Pradesh. My deepest prayers,” he wrote.

Earlier this month, an Indian Army pilot was killed and another was injured when a helicopter crashed in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, one of India’s last points before China.

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As per the report, more than 40 people – including former chief minister Dorjee Khandu have lost their lives killed in six helicopter crashes in the northeastern state since 2010.

Friday’s accident comes days after seven people aboard a chopper – operated by a private agency – had died after the helicopter crashed near the Kedarnath Dham. Among the seven were pilgrims and the pilot.