ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Jul 4:  In yet another chopper accident in the hilly terrains of Arunachal Pradesh, an IAF-305 helicopter  with three crew members went missing few minutes after take-off from Pilupotu, Sagalee some  90 km from the state capital.

While speaking to Eastern Sentinel, ADC Sagalee Jalash Pertin confirmed about the incident and informed that the said chopper was deployed to rescue stranded passengers from Seppa and other nearby areas who were stuck in the areas since last few days due to road block and landslides resulting from recent torrential rains.

He further added that the said Helicopter after dropping the passengers from Naharlagun at Pilipito took off from the ground  with three crew members on board at around  3:45 pm. However he got a call from civil aviation office regarding the whereabouts of the helicopter that was scheduled to land at Naharlagun Helipad.

‘As  per reports  from few locals  an unusual sound was heard at some distance in between Kheel and Hostalam areas ,however we cannot authenticate  such reports until we get some strong clue,’ asserted the ADC. He further divulged that an SOS has been sent to all the concern authority who can help in search and rescue operation.

He also informed that help from the NDRF team has been sought  who will take the route from Doimukh to Hostalam  in search of  the chopper  and a team of local people including security agency will also  move  from Sagalee on Wednesday wee hours as the weather right now is not favourable ‘ he stated.

Sources at the chief minister’s office here said Chief Minister Pema Khandu was monitoring the situation. Directives have been issued to the administration and the police to extend all possible help in the search and rescue operation. The villagers have also asked to help the administration in locating the missing chopper, the sources said.

Talking to media, Rijiju said, “Weather is turbulent in North-East. I am safe but whole the whole state machinery is geared up to locate the missing IAF ALH chopper.”

Recently one Sukhoi 30 plane with two pilots on board went missing after taking off from Salonibari air force station in Assam on May 23 and in similar incident on August 2015 Pawan Hans helicopter with Deputy Commissioner Tirap   Kamlesh Joshi and pilots M S Brar and Rajeev Hoskote met with accidents.

 

 

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List