Six IAF personnel, civilian killed in chopper crash

Six Indian Air Force (IAF) officers and a civilian were killed on Wednesday when a chopper crashed near the Garend Kalan village of Budgam district in central Kashmir.

Sources said that the chopper, an Mi-17, crashed due to some technical snag. It caught fire and broke in two parts.

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Those killed include both pilots of the chopper.

No confirmation of the deaths and details of the crash have yet come from the defence ministry. However, local police said that seven persons died in the mishap.

Bodies of occupants of the chopper were completely charred and have been handed over to the IAF for identification.

A court of enquiry has been ordered into the mishap.

Reports said that a 30-year-old civilian identified as Kifayat Ahmad Ganaie, who was near the accident site, was killed as the helicopter crashed. Three other villagers had a miraculous escape.

Large number of villagers reached the crash spot and the police and Army dispersed them. The fuselage of the helicopter was burning when it fell down in an open area.

The crash has come a day after the IAF targeted terrorist training camps in Pakistan. The Pakistan Air Force violated the Indian airspace this morning and dropped bombs near four military installations.