The four seater, single engine Pawan Hans AS-B350-B-3 chopper has gone missing after take off from Tawang, one of the 16 administrative districts of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India, since Saturday morning with five on board, including crew members.
Indian officials have said, the plane has been missing in Bhutan –China border.
The VIP missing in the chopper also included Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorje Khandu. Others are Captain J S Babbar, Captain T S Mamik, Khandu’s security officer Yeshi Choddak and a lady Yeshi Lhamu, sister of Tawang MLA Tsewang Dhondup.
Meanwhile, Indian external affairs minister S M Krishna on Tuesday spoke to Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley, seeking assistance in search operations to trace the missing helicopter carrying Minister Khandu and four others.
“Krishna spoke to Thinley and sought Bhutanese assistance in the search operations along the Indo-Bhutan border, sources said wrote the online edition of the Hindustan Times.
The two also discussed the issue of logistical support to people involved in the search operations, it said.
Meanwhile, the Indian Ambassador to Bhutan Pavan Verma said that the operations were being done by the Indian government and the Bhutanese authorities were providing all cooperation.
“Since yesterday the Bhutanese have been most cooperative,” he said.
