With the Indian air force and army still unable to trace squadron leader DS Tomar, the pilot of the MIG 29 that crashed in the mountains, inclement weather in the area hampered the rescue operations that continue for the fourth day on Saturday.
Teams of Air Force and the army troopers along with locals on Saturday had began their ground search, while Indian Air Force planes and the helicopters continued their aerial recce over areas from where resident of Thirot had found debris of superior jet fighter MIG - 29 up in the mountains beyond Chokang. The weather in the high mountains turned hostile after the fresh snowfall in the area that hampered the search operation. The teams of Indian army and air force had to return early to their base camp a thirot, since it began to snow at the site of plane crash in the afternoon. "Nothing was recovered during the search operation as the weather took turn in the mountains" said Deputy Suprintendent of Police Khazana Ram who along with police party assisted this ground search in the mountains. "Even the aerial reconnaissance had to be called off early due to the bad weather conditions," Khazana Ram told HT over phone after he returned back to base camp in Thirot.
Even as chances of pilot survival are remote, the Indian air force official said that search operations would continue till missing pilot is not found. "Our search will continue till the missing pilot is not found and till we don't find fully find the wreckage of the plane" squadron leader, Priya Joshi spokesperson for the Indian Air force said over telephone from Delhi. Indian force officials camping in Thirot held meeting with civil administration to intensify their search operation. Army and Air force troopers scaled two snow laden peaks on Saturday to get more clues of the missing plane. Indian air force is conducting the searches in the mountains areas where the villagers had witnessed a fire ball falling from the sky, which later exploded.
{{/usCountry}}Even as chances of pilot survival are remote, the Indian air force official said that search operations would continue till missing pilot is not found. "Our search will continue till the missing pilot is not found and till we don't find fully find the wreckage of the plane" squadron leader, Priya Joshi spokesperson for the Indian Air force said over telephone from Delhi. Indian force officials camping in Thirot held meeting with civil administration to intensify their search operation. Army and Air force troopers scaled two snow laden peaks on Saturday to get more clues of the missing plane. Indian air force is conducting the searches in the mountains areas where the villagers had witnessed a fire ball falling from the sky, which later exploded.
{{/usCountry}}The two Indian Air Force planes from Adampur air base had left on Tuesday for nocturnal night flying exercises on the h above high mountains. While one returned safely, to the base the other MIG 29 had gone missing in the mountains.