Itanagar, Nov 18 (UNI) An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter has crash-landed in a remote area in Anjaw district of eastern Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday while carrying out an air sortie operation in the area bordering China.
There was, however, no report of any fatalities in the incident, official sources said.
“The IAF’s Mi-19 helicopter with two pilots and three crew members on board crash-landed at around 9.30 am near the Rochham helipad under Chaglagam circle of the district. The incident happened when the chopper was carrying out ration sorties from Hayuliang to Rochham helipad for the Armed Forces personnel deployed at the last border post along the Line of Actual Control (LAC),” Anjaw Deputy Commissioner Talo Jerang said.
“Two of the crew members reportedly sustained minor injuries during crash landing,” the DC said
while adding that “all officers and crew members are safe”.
All the five persons were later airlifted back to Mohanbari in neighbouring Assam’s Dibrugarh, he
said.
The Rochham border post has the presence of both the Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police
(ITBP) Forces personnel. The ITBP troops of Rochham post also rushed to the place of occurrence
for rescue operation.
The DC said, with the remote border area having no surface road links, airways are the only means of transport for carrying essential supplies and equipment for the Armed Forces personnel deployed at Rochham post, 35 km from Hayuliang.
The area does not have any civilian population, he added.
Reportedly, the helicopter’s rotors got damaged completely.
UNI TD KK