The ongoing rescue and relief operations by the IAF met with a serious setback in Uttarakhand on Tuesday when a Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed near Kedarnath. There were conflicting versions about the casualties. While the IAF claimed eight people died in the crash, National Disaster Management Authority Vice-Chairman Shashidhar Reddy said he feared 19 people had died in the mishap.
A PTI report from Gauchar quoting Reddy said eight bodies were recovered and chances of any survivors among the 19 people onboard were remote.
“There were 19 people onboard, including NDRF, ITBP and IAF personnel. Eight bodies have been recovered,” he said. IAF Chief NAK Browne is likely to visit the mishap site on Wednesday.
However an IAF spokesperson in Delhi said: “One Mi-17V5 helicopter on a rescue mission from Gauchar to Guptkashi and Kedarnath crashed north of Gaurikund, on its return
journey from Kedarnath. The eight people onboard, including five crew members sustained fatal injuries. While a court of enquiry has been ordered to investigate the accident, the IAF’s rescue operations will continue.”
The mishap took place about 12.30 pm and the helicopter crashed within five to seven minutes after taking off from Kedarnath. It was the third sortie by this helicopter to Kedarnath when it went down. All the bodies were recovered by Garud commandos of the IAF. The IAF crew members killed in the tragedy were identified as Wing Commander Castelino, Flight lieutenant Praveen, Flight lieutenant T Kapoor and Junior Warrant Officer AK Singh.
The IAF has deployed more than 40 helicopters and five to seven transport planes and the ill-fated helicopter was from a unit stationed at Barrackpore Air Force Station, West Bengal under the Eastern Command.
The IAF had started inducting Mi-17 V5 choppers last year after 80 of them were ordered from Russia. The helicopter can carry 15 to 18 people and is one of the most trusted platforms for carrying out rescue missions.
Incidentally, this is the second incident of a helicopter crash this week in Uttarakhand. A private helicopter carrying relief material for stranded people in Rudraprayag district had crashed on Sunday near Gaurikund leaving the pilot injured.
The IAF has so far carried more than 1,200 sorties since the floods hit Uttarakhand on June 16 and this mishap came as a setback. Defence Minister AK Antony expressed shock over the incident.