IAF CHOPPER CRASHED IN UTTARAKHAND
An IAF
helicopter on Tuesday ,25th June,2013,crashed during rescue
operations near Gaurikund in rain-ravaged Uttarakhand, killing eight persons
onboard, including five crew members.“One Mi-17 V5 chopper on a rescue mission
from Gauchar to Guptkashi and Kedarnath while returning from Kedarnath crashed
north of Gaurikund,” an IAF spokesperson said.Eight persons onboard, including
five crew members, suffered fatal injuries in the mishap, she said in Delhi.A
Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the crash, the spokesperson
said.The IAF said its operations in the area will continue.
IAF had
started inducting Mi-17 V5 choppers only in 2012 after 80 of them were ordered
from Russia.This is the second incident of a helicopter crash this week in the
hill State.A private helicopter carrying relief materials for the rain-affected
people in Rudraprayag district hadcrashed on Sunday near Gaurikund leaving the pilot injured.Air Force
officials said eight bodies have been recovered from the crash site by the
Garud Commandos of the IAF.They said the chopper had taken off at 12.30 p.m.
from Kedarnath area and crashed within five to seven minutes. Defence Minister
A.K. Antony has expressed anguish over the crash.A pall of gloom descended at
the helipad in Gauchar after reports of the crash reached.
IAF,
Army and ITBP officers went into a huddle at a tent erected by the Air Force
for controlling its operations.Senior officials of the agencies involved in the
rescue operations also rushed to the helipad.IAF officers were seen making
anxious calls over their cellphones and restricted frequency equipment to
finetune the operations and gather details of the crash.Presence of local
police officials has been beefed up in the area after the mishap.
Prof. John Kurakar
No comments:
Post a Comment