As per the reports, an Army chopper with three people onboard crashed near Machhna village in Marwah tehsil of Kishtwar District.
A senior police official said, “There were two to three people on board the helicopter. Initial reports suggest that they have been injured”.
According to officials, “An Army ALH Dhruv Helicopter crashed near Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir. Pilots have suffered injuries but are safe. Further details are awaited”.
The injured pilots are going under treatment at Command Hospital, Udhampur.
After being washed away after the crash, the wreckage of the helicopter was discovered in the Marusudar River, which flows through Marwah-Dachhan in the Kishtwar district.
In the Kishtwar region, the ALH Dhruv helicopter was engaged in an operational mission when it crashed. A technical issue forced the Army Aviation Corps helicopter to make a precautionary landing on the banks of the Marusudar River in the Kishtwar district, according to a statement from the Indian Army’s Northern Command HQ.
The pilots had informed the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) about a technical glitch and made a precautionary landing after that. Landing became tougher and riskier due to the undulating ground, undergrowth and unprepared landing area.
After informing the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) about a mechanical issue, the pilots made a precautionary landing. Because of the undulating ground, undergrowth, and inadequate landing place, landing became more difficult and dangerous.
On the helicopter, there were three people: a pilot, a co-pilot and a technician. Due to the emergency, the crew suffered injuries, but all of them were safely evacuated and are undergoing treatment at Command Hospital, Udhampur.
The actual reason behind the technical glitch encountered during the flight is still not known, and a court of inquiry has been ordered.
At around 10.35 AM, the crash took place. The rescue operation began after the local authorities got information about the incident, said Kishtwar SSP Khalil Poswal.
This incident occurred after the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard grounded their fleets of ALH Dhruv choppers because of a similar technical glitch in March.
On March 8, the Navy’s ALH Dhruv suffered a sudden loss of power and rapid loss of height. Still, the pilot carried out the controlled ditching over water, and all three aircrews exited the helicopter safely.
It has been almost two months since the ALH Dhruv choppers are grounded.
