Week after helicopter crash, army says search operation entering final phase, international assistance being sought

JAMMU: A week after an army helicopter crashed with two pilots in Ranjit Sagar Lake in Basholi area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district on August 3, the defence authorities on Tuesday said the search operation was entering its final phase with the rescue team zeroing in on a small area of 60m by 60m, besides seeking international assistance for the task.
"A small area of 60m by 60m of the 25-km-long, 8-km-wide and around 500-feet-deep Ranjit Sagar Dam has been localised and special sonar equipment has been flown in from Kochi to enable the search operation enter its final phase,” said Defence PRO of Jammu, Lt Col Devender Anand, here.
He added despite bad weather and rain, they are leaving no stone unturned to search for the helicopter, which crashed and sank, along with two pilots. “Expertise and equipment of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, national and state disaster response forces, besides NGOs, local police, the dam authority and several private firms across the country have been put into service. Divers are continuously searching for the missing helicopter and its two pilots. International assistance is also being sought," said Defence PRO of Jammu, Lt Col Anand.
He further said this deep underwater operation is especially challenging due to the near-zero visibility below 50 m owing to the colloidal dispersion in water in this season. “It adversely impacts the accuracy of sonars and other sensors.”
Col Anand also said the Special Forces divers’ team of the Indian Army, comprising 27 personnel, including two officers, were working in coordination with the deep divers’ team of the Navy, comprising of 30 personnel, including two officers. “Apart from the special sonar equipment, multi-beam sonars, side scanners, remotely operated vehicles and underwater manipulators have been flown in from Chandigarh, Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi and pressed into action."