New Delhi:
An Indian Air Force chopper with three on board went missing near Sagalee in Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday, PTI quoted a Defence source as saying. The incident of the chopper missing happened hours after a helicopter carrying Union Minister Kiren Rijiju made an emergency landing in a village near Itanagar due to inclement weather.
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju chopper on Tuesday made an emergency landing in Arunachal Pradesh’s Itanagar. Bad weather was the cause of the landing. Earlier, a helicopter carrying Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made an emergency landing at the HAL Airport Bengaluru after suffering a bird hit on April 24.
MoS Home Kiren Rijiju while talking about the incident said, “Weather turbulent in North-East.I’m safe but whole State machinery geared up to locate IAF ALH chopper missing almost at same time.” He further added, “AP CM Pema Khandu & state govt mobilising local people to locate missing IAF helicopter which was on a rescue mission in AP.”
The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) lost contact soon after taking off from Sagalee at around 3.50 pm, Defence PROLt. Col. Sambit Ghosh said. The chopper was evacuating people, stranded at Sagaleedue to landslides triggered by rains.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu was monitoring the situation, sources in his office said. Directives have been issued to the administration and the police to extend all help in the operation to trace and rescue the crew members. Villagers have also asked to help the administration in locating the missing chopper, the sources said.
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