At least three persons, including two pilots and an aircraft engineer, were feared killed after a helicopter flying over the Bavdhan area in Pune crashed in the hilly terrain, officials said here on Wednesday.
The chopper had taken from Oxford Golf Club for a flight to Juhu Airport in Mumbai and is believed to have crashed around 7.50 a.m., barely three to four minutes after it was airborne, and the region had a thick fog, said a police officer speaking from the site of the tragedy.
This is the second incident of its kind in the Pune hills after a private helicopter on a Mumbai-Hyderabad flight crashed in the region on August 24, injuring four, and before that, on May 3, a helicopter flying to pick up Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare had crashed near a helipad in Raigad.
Bharatiya Janata Party’s Minister Chandrakant Patil said that as per preliminary information, the crash may have occurred owing to some technical snag and suspected poor visibility, which will be probed.
As per certain unverified reports, the ruling Nationalist Congress Party state President Sunil Tatkare was planning to take a flight on the same ill-fated chopper. It was flying to Mumbai to pick up Tatkare for a flight in the day, after flying to certain places in Beed on Tuesday.
An official said that the police control was informed of the tragedy by a caller and immediately a team was set up, including the local fire brigade, which rushed to the crash spot, in a hilly and densely forested area of the ghats.
The police also informed the local aviation authorities and a team of experts is rushing from Mumbai for a probe into the tragedy.
The Hinjewadi Police Station along with aviation officials are coordinating to assess the situation and other details, including the identity of the victims, shifting their bodies for autopsy, etc.
More details are awaited.
‘Pahalgam incident deeply disturbing & tragic’: Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday termed the Pahalgam terror attack as disturbing & tragic and also condoled the victims and their families.
Congress finally deletes 'Gayab' post targeting PM Modi after outrage
Under fire from the BJP over its social media post targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress finally, on Tuesday, took down the controversial post.
Guterres calls EAM Jaishankar, Pak PM Sharif; stresses pursuing justice in Pahalgam terror attack
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the importance of pursuing justice in the Pahalgam terrorist attack while speaking with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shebaz Sharif, his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.
Congress organises ‘Save Constitution’ rallies across NE states
The opposition Congress has been organising ‘Samvidhan Bachao’ (Save Constitution) campaign in the northeastern states. Claiming that the Constitution is in danger under the BJP-led Central government, the opposition Congress held a massive rally in Agartala on Tuesday.
RSS chief Bhagwat meets PM Modi after security huddle: Signs of a hard-hitting response in the works
In a significant political development, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg on Tuesday evening.
What PM Modi's free hand to armed forces against terror means for cross-border action?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unambiguous message during a high-level security meeting - ‘India is determined to deliver a crushing blow to terrorism’ - marks more than just a strong statement of resolve.
Justice BR Gavai appointed as next Chief Justice of India
Justice Gavai was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court on May 29, 2019. Appointed as Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in November 2003, he became a permanent Judge in November 2005.
Three more Bangladeshi nationals held in Tripura
The Tripura Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday apprehended three Bangladeshi nationals, including a woman, for illegally entering India, officials said.