IAF chopper on flood relief mission goes missing in Arunachal Pradesh

The chopper was evacuating people stranded due to rainfall-induced landslides.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper engaged in flood rescue mission went missing near Sagalee in Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday.

The advanced light helicopter with three crew members aboard lost contact immediately after take-off around 3:50 pm. (File photo for representation)

Tezpur-based defence spokesperson Lt Col Sombit Ghosh said the advanced light helicopter with three crew members aboard lost contact immediately after take-off around 3:50 pm.

“The chopper was evacuating people stranded due to rainfall-induced landslides,” he said.

Officials in Arunachal Pradesh said chief minister Pema Khandu has been monitoring the situation and has alerted the local administration and police to locate the chopper. Villagers have also been asked to help.

The day also saw a Mi-17 helicopter carrying Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju landing at a college ground in Itanagar instead of the helipad at Raj Bhavan due to poor visibility.

The pilots of the chopper, belonging to the Border Security Force (BSF), managed to manoeuvre for about 10 minutes before landing on the playground of Rajiv Gandhi Polytechnic here under emergency situation.

“The chopper had to land as the visibility was low due to continuous downpour. The situation is absolutely normal,” Komjum Riba, additional private secretary to Rijiju said.