Arunachal CM Dorjee Khandu killed in chopper crash

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs confirmed on Wednesday that Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Dorjee Khandu has been killed in a chopper crash, according to Times Now.

The chopper crashed between Kyela and Lobothang near Tawang district at a height of 4900 metres. Search operations are on to locate the chief minister's body.

Six helicopters have been sent to the crash site to confirm the identity of bodies. Family members and associates will be reaching the crash site with the help from Army helicopters.

External affairs minister SM Krishna said he is deeply pained by the demise of Dorjee Khandu.

Earlier in the day, home minister P Chidambaram said the crash site had been located and some bodies sighted. "Not encouraging and not good news," the minister told reporters, adding that a rescue team had spotted what appeared to be an aircraft in an area between Kyela and Lobothang at an altitude of 4,900 metres (16,076 feet).

"They have sighted three bodies. This sighting has been made from a height. They have not been able to go down to the place where the aircraft is (lying) crashed. The message has been given to the nearest Army post which is sending a team," he had told reporters.

On Wednesday morning, search operation for missing helicopter carrying Khandu focussed on in three areas along Indo-Bhutan border.

"Based on inputs received from the ISRO satellite and the Sukhoi-30 aircraft, as well as information provided by some local people, the search operations are now going inNagar GG, District Tawang; immediate south of Sela Pass known as Eagle's Nest Reserve Forest and district Phangrong in Bhutan", said home ministry joint secretary Sambhu Singh.

Singh had said, "The search operations are being carried out by teams from the Army, ITBP, SSB, Arunachal Pradesh Police, NDRF and grazers from Arunachal Pradesh. The Government of Bhutan has also deployed search teams on its side of the border".

The Pawan Hans AS350 B-3 helicopter carrying the chief minister took off from Tawang at 9.50 am on Saturday. The last radio contact with the ground was about 20 minutes after take off as it flew over the Sela Pass along the Chinese border perched at an altitude of 13,700 feet.

Apart from Khandu, the people on board included crew members Captain J S Babbar and Captain K S Malick, Khandu's security officer Yeshi Choddak and Yeshi Lamu, sister of Tawang legislator Tsewang Dhondup.

There were about 3,500 personnel deployed in the search operations.