Search resumes for missing Pawan Hans helicopter in Arunachal Pradesh

ITANAGAR: Inclement weather today hampered search operations for the Pawan Hans chopper, which went missing yesterday with three persons on board in Arunachal Pradesh.

The rescue operation, which was suspended last evening, resumed at 3.30 AM involving the Army, Assam Rifles, state police along with officials from the district administration, panchayat members and villagers, Chief Secretary Ramesh Negi said.

District Information and Public Relation Officer (DIPRO) D Bosai, who is a member of the search team said the ground search teams were concentrating on areas of Dadam and Thinsa village near Deomali in the district where villagers reportedly heard a crash-like sound yesterday.

However, two IAF choppers pressed into service could not proceed with the search operation due to inclement weather followed by rain, the Chief Secretary said.

"The choppers will start operation as soon as the weather clears during the day," Negi said.

The Dauphin twin-engine helicopter of state-run Pawan Hans went missing with Tirap Deputy Commissioner Kamlesh Kumar Joshi after taking off from Khonsa in Tirap district at around 10.45 AM on its way to Longding.

The Chief Secretary also said that there were three persons on board the helicopter comprising the Deputy Commissioner and two pilots.

Earlier it was reported that four persons were on board the chopper.

The chopper was to pick up the Deputy Commissioners of Longding and Changlang for proceeding to New Delhi to attend an important meeting on August 6.

Earlier, it was reported that some villagers of Kalagaon and Lamlo in Tirap district heard a blast-like sound at around 11 AM, but on searching those places nothing was spotted, Bosai said.