SRINAGAR: An army helicopter has crashed near the Ranjit Sagar Dam lake in Kathua, reports appearing in media said. Authorities have deployed an NDRF team for rescue operations.
The helicopter of the 254 Army Aviation Squadron, India Today reported, took off from Mamun Cantonemnet at around 10:20 am. It was carrying out low-level sorties in the Ranjit Sagar Dam area when it crashed.
SSP Kathua R C Kotwal told the newspaper that divers have been deployed and there is no information about the people on board and other things. One report said the chopper had a pilot and co-pilot on board. One report said both the pilots of the weapon system integrated ALH Dhruv are safe but it is yet to be confirmed by the army.
Pathankot SSP Surendra Lamba has told reporters that they have received information about an army chopper landing in the Ranjit Sagar Dam, almost 30 km from the neighbouring Punjab city, and they have rushed the rescue teams on the spot.
The Dam on the border of Jammu and Kashmir is owned by Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir has certain rights over the use of its waters and power. Most of its investments come from the central government.
