LG expresses grief, prayers for speedy recovery of wounded
Srinagar: A pilot of the Indian Army’s Aviation Corps was killed and another got injured after an Indian Army Cheetah helicopter crashed close to the Line of Control in Kashmir on Friday, officials said.
Srinagar based defence spokesman said an Army Cheetah helicopter crashed in Baraub area of Gurez in Bandipora district this afternoon, while on a routine mission to evacuate an ailing soldier from a forward post.
“The helicopter lost communication contact with the forward post at Gujran, Baraub. A search operation on foot was immediately launched by the Indian Army alongside search and rescue helicopters which were pressed into service. The wreckage of the crashed helicopter was found in a snow bound Gujran Nallah area,” the spokesman said.
He said Pilot and the co-pilot of the helicopter were grievously injured in the crash and were immediately evacuated. 29 year old Major Sankalp Yadav, the co-pilot succumbed to his injuries at Army’s 92 Base Hospital, he said. Maj Yadav, a resident of Jaipur, Rajasthan was commissioned in 2015. He is survived by his father. “The injured pilot is critical, however stable and is presently in ICU at 92 Base Hospital,” he added.
The spokesman said events leading to the crash of the helicopter are being ascertained. Several Cheetah helicopters have crashed in the last five years in the country. The Cheetah helicopters are produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in a tweet said: “I salute the courage and supreme sacrifice of our braveheart Army officer Maj Sankalp Yadav who laid down his life in the line of duty in Gurez sector. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief. I wish for speedy recovery of the injured.” (UNI)
