Itanagar, May 2 (Agencies)- The helicopter carrying Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu is still missing. Data from the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) satellite mapping, and images taken from IAF's Sukhoi 30s have found metallic traces in three places.
Sources have told that the terrain is difficult for ground forces to trek, with heavy rains and light snow slowing down operations. Paramilitary personnel and volunteers from nearby villages will resume the trek tomorrow.
Operations resumed with first light on Monday morning and security forces focused their attention on three pin-pointed locations along the Indo-Bhutan border. As the day wore on, ISRO satellite mapping and Sukhoi aerial surveys further zeroed on an area 85 km from Bomdila. Four Indian Air Force helicopters were also pressed into service early on Monday to conduct aerial surveys.
The five-seater, single-engine Pawan Hans helicopter went missing 20 minutes after take-off from Tawang on Saturday morning. Besides Mr Khandu, others on board were pilots Captain J S Babbar, Captain T S Mamik, Mr Khandu's security officer Yeshi Choddak and Yeshi Lhamu, sister of Tawang MLA, Tsewang Dhondup.
The last radio contact with the ground was about 20 minutes after take-off as the helicopter flew over the Sela Pass along the Chinese border. The Sela Pass is at an altitude of 13,700 feet. The helicopter was believed to have come down near the border with Bhutan and searches were mounted in that country too.
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