Chopper goes missing in Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar, Aug 4

A Pawan Hans helicopter with four persons on board, including a Deputy Commissioner, went missing after taking off from Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday.

A helicopter-like object was later believed to have been sighted in the dense jungles near Deomali area in Tirap district, Chief Secretary Ramesh Negi said quoting army sources, adding that the security personnel were unable to reach it due to inclement weather and hostile terrain.

The Dauphin twin-engine helicopter of the state-run Pawan Hans had on board the deputy commissioner of Tirap, Kamlesh Kumar Joshi, two pilots and a crew when it went missing at 11.15 am.

It took off from Naharlagun helipad near here to Mohanbari in Dibrugarh, Assam at 8.40 am. From there, it headed to Khonsa in Arunchal Pradesh.

The chopper took off from Khonsa with Joshi on board at around 10.30 am and was on its way to Longding and Changlang when it went missing. The Air Traffic Control lost touch with the helicopter after 11.15 am, officials said.

"The three DCs of Tirap, Changlang and Longding were scheduled to board a flight from Mohanbari airport in Assam to New Delhi later in the day to attend an important meeting convened by the Home Ministry," District Information and Public Relation Officer (DIPRO) D Bosai said from Khonsa.

Three columns of Army along with state police and Assam police are on search and rescue operation, the Chief Secretary said.

A blast was heard near Kalagaon and Lamlou villages in the district, Bosai said quoting villagers. It was foggy weather in the area, he said.

"We are monitoring the situation and are in touch with the Army," Negi said.

Rescue operations by the Army, IAF and para-military forces has halted for the day and will now resume on Wednesday morning, District Information and Public Relation Officer D Bosai, who is also a member of the search team, said.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, who is monitoring the situation, held an emergency meeting with the Home Minister, Civil Aviation Minister and other officials.

The helicopter was on a routine passenger sortie to Longding and was to return to Mohanbari Airport in Dibrugarh when it lost contact.

The Chief Minister has sought help from the Central Government to track down the chopper. — PTI