Sikkim: Missing Army chopper found, 4 dead near Chinese Border

[A.V.]

The Indian Army helicopter that went missing yesterday was found in pieces and all four military men on board dead, Eastern Army Command sources said on Friday (April 22). The chopper, with two pilots and two soldiers on board had gone missing on Thursday during a routine training exercise in north Sikkim near the Chinese border, just two days after a helicopter crash at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh which claimed 17 lives.

The Advanced Light Helicopter â€" ALH Dhruv with pilots â€" Lt. Jepa and Lt. Col Bhatia of the Indian Air Force and soldiers Naib Subedar Rana and Naik Panth of 8 Gorkha Rifles on board had taken off from 66 Brigade Sevoke Road, Salugara base near Siliguri, West Bengal at around 9:30 am on Thursday.

It lost radio contact at around 10:45 am due to bad weather over Shivmandir area in the valley, army sources said.

more:- http://www.timesnow.tv/Sikkim-Missing-Army-chopper-found-4-dead/articleshow/4371134.cms

 

[tarunraju]

Are there any conspiracy theories doing rounds that they were shot down?

 

[venkat]

if the wreckage is strewn all over ,it is indicative of being shot down with MANPADS from across the border!!! ALH cabin is crash worthy and is made of composites. Loss of precious lives is saddening.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

R I P ..........


SAD very Sad...

 

[Pintu]

Rest In Peace, the brave souls, this is sad.

 

[JBH22]

if the wreckage is strewn all over ,it is indicative of being shot down with MANPADS from across the border!!! ALH cabin is crash worthy and is made of composites. Loss of precious lives is saddening.

x2 was thinking the same given it was operating near Chinese border btw does anyone know if all the ALH are equipped with countermeasures?

 

[ganesh177]

RIP

Thats very sad indeed.

 

[amitkriit]

This is not the first incident of such kind, where our helicopter went down close to the Chinese border, killing everyone on-board. Something is not being reported, or is being hidden deliberately. Are the helicopters being maintained correctly? Are they fully air-worthy or not?

 

[Rahul92]

Let their souls rest in peace

 

[StealthSniper]

Very sad news, R.I.P brave souls.

 

[Virendra]

if the wreckage is strewn all over ,it is indicative of being shot down with MANPADS from across the border!!! ALH cabin is crash worthy and is made of composites. Loss of precious lives is saddening.

This is indeed a big loss. And it has to be established why the chopper went down. Couldn't it be because of some explosion within the chopper, may be the fuel tank?
I just don't want us to be speculative only because it happened close to a border. But again, if there is no hue and cry the government or army leadership won't bother presenting any facts. Was this story covered well in media ?

Regards,
Virendra

 

[sayareakd]

Rip .......................

 

[badguy2000]

RIP...
BTW:

was it made by HAL?

 

[Virendra]

RIP...
BTW:
was it made by HAL?

Yes it was. It has a history of being grounded in India and Israel on a few occasions due to technical issues. Am I catching your drift right?

Regards,
Virendra

 

[Suryakiran]

Let the brave souls rest in peace...