The search and rescue operation that continued for the second successive day following the crash of an Indian Army’s Advanced Light Combat helicopter near Tuting in Arunachal Pradesh ended on Saturday with the recovery of mortal remains of the fifth Army personnel, informed defence sources.
The Indian Army has released the names of fallen Bravehearts along with their photographs. They have been identified as – Maj Vikas Bhambhu, Maj Mustafa Bohara, CFN Tech AVN (AEN) Aswin K V, Hav (Opr) Biresh Sinha, NK (Opr) Rohitashva Kumar.
General Manoj Pande #COAS & All Ranks of #IndianArmy salute the #Bravehearts Maj Vikas Bhambhu, Maj Mustafa Bohara, Cfn Aswin KV, Hav Biresh Sinha & Nk Rohitashva Kumar who laid down their lives in the line of duty at #Migging & offer deepest condolences to the bereaved families. https://t.co/JV1imjjLPK
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) October 22, 2022
“The search and rescue mission has ended with the recovery of the fifth individual. My deepest condolences to the families of the Fallen Bravehearts,” – informed the Tezpur-based Defence PRO Lt Col A S Walia.
Earlier, the Defence PRO informed that moments before the chopper crashed in a forested area near Tuting in Upper Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh, the pilots had sent a ‘May day’ call over the radio to the air traffic control suggesting a technical or mechanical failure.
“This will form the focus of the Court of Inquiry, which has been immediately constituted to investigate the causes of the accident. The weather was good for flying operations. The pilots had more than 600 combined flying hours on ALH-WSI and over 1800 service flying hours between them,” – he added.
It is worth noting that the Indian Army’s Advanced Light Helicopter (Weapon Systems Integrated) took off from Likabali (near the Assam border) crashed along the General Area of Migging, South of Tuting in Arunachal Pradesh at 10:43 AM on Friday.
Earlier on October 5, an Indian Army pilot was killed after the Indian Army’s Cheetah helicopter, flying in the forward area, crashed near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. This unfortunate incident occurred at Nyamjang Chu near Bap Teng Kang waterfall area of Jemeithang circle in Tawang district; when the helicopter with two pilots was coming from the Surwa Samba area on a routine sortie.
