New Delhi: Three people were on board an Army helicopter when it crashed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday.
According to news agency ANI, the pilots suffered injuries but were safe.
Kishtwar police chief Khalil Poswal said rescue teams were immediately rushed to the accident site – in the district’s remote and hilly Marwah region. It has been raining and snowing in the area, according to reports.
A statement by the Army’s Northern Command said the helicopter was on an operational mission when it made a precautionary landing on the banks of Marua River. “As per inputs, the pilots had reported a technical fault to the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) and proceeded for a precautionary landing. Due to the undulating ground, undergrowth and unprepared landing area, the helicopter apparently made a hard landing,” the statement read.
The Army also said a technician was on board — apart from the two pilots – was also injured. All three have been shifted to Command Hospital in Udhampur. The Army said a court of inquiry has been ordered.
The aircraft was an advanced light helicopter called ALH Dhruv – a twin-engine utility aircraft indigenously developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Another ALH Dhruv – of the Indian Coast Guard – had crashed in Kochi in March after making a forced landing during a test flight. All three on board were safe.
Last October, another Indian Army ALH, known as the Rudra crashed in Arunachal Pradesh, killing five personnel. The Rudra is an armed version of the ALH Dhruv.
It brought to focus the series of crashes of the indigenous helicopter, which is the backbone of the Indian Army.
Earlier this March, two pilots were killed after a Cheetah helicopter crashed near the Mandala Hills in Arunachal Pradesh when it was out on a sortie.
Also read: Two pilots killed in Indian Army chopper crash in Arunachal