Arunachal Chief Minister, 4 others dead; helicopter wreckage located: Sources

Mangalore Today News Network

Itanagar, May 4:  The wreckage of the helicopter carrying Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and four others, that went missing on Saturday last, has been located. Mr Khandu and all others on the helicopter have died.

The four-seat, single-engine Pawan Hans helicopter went missing 20 minutes after take-off from Tawang on Saturday morning. Besides Mr Khandu, others on board were pilots Captain J S Babbar, Captain T S Mamik, Mr Khandu’s security officer Yeshi Choddak and Yeshi Lhamu, sister of Tawang MLA, Tsewang Dhondup.

The last radio contact with the ground was about 20 minutes after take-off as the helicopter flew over the Sela Pass along the Chinese border. The Sela Pass is at an altitude of 13,700 feet. The helicopter was believed to have come down near the border with Bhutan and searches were mounted in that country too.

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, ISRO satellite mapping and data from Sukhoi aerial surveys pointed to three places -- including Nagarjiji, 85 km from Bomdila - where metallic traces were found.

Heavy rain and light snow in the area made rescue operations difficult on Tuesday, the fourth day of the search. Sources said special ropes were been ordered to access the area and to reach rescue teams there.

The Indian Air Force had to suspend search operations on Sunday too because of poor weather conditions.

On Monday, operations began with first light security forces focused their attention on the three pin-pointed locations along the Indo-Bhutan border. Four Indian Air Force helicopters were also pressed into service to conduct aerial surveys.