Lost copter trail leads to Bhutan

The missing chopper with Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and four others could have possibly landed or crashed at Ptag in Bhutan.

“A search team of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has left for Bhutan at 9.30 on Tuesday morning,” official sources in the force told Deccan Herald.  They scotched speculation that the helicopter may have crossed into the Chinese air space.
Local intelligence gave information of  “blasting sounds” heard  from  the region where foot-search will shortly be launched. “Satellite  imagery has corroborated flight path there,” sources said.

The ITBP team would comb the area early Wednesday to verify “the status of the evidence” there. They will be climbing about 3000 to 4000 metres to reach the area where the helicopter is suspected to have landed or crashed.

On account of the bad weather aerial survey was not successful on Tuesday. Satellite information suggests helicopter landed or crashed and around 66 sq km area in Bhutan. “Sukoi aerial photos have given good imagery of the region. We are expecting firm confirmation of chopper’s status by Wednesday,” sources said.

A crisis management group comprising ITBP and civilian officials is functioning at Dhirand is working round the clock. The base received last communication from the chopper while it was flying over the Sela Pass on Saturday.