- Title: INDIA: Air Force Chief confirms 20 dead in rescue chopper crash
- Date: 26th June 2013
- Summary: GAUCHAR, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (JUNE 26, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) CHIEF OF AIR STAFF, AIR CHIEF MARSHAL NORMAN ANIL KUMAR BROWNE, WALKING ACROSS AIRFIELD TO ADRESS JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF OF AIR STAFF, AIR CHIEF MARSHAL NORMAN ANIL KUMAR BROWNE, SAYING: "When this happened we sent a team, some time in the evening, to slither down certain Garud forces, commandos, seven of them, and they have reported to us that there are no survivors in this group. There were 20 people on board, five from the air force as part of the group, there were nine from the NDRF and six from the ITBP, totalling to 20." (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF OF AIR STAFF, AIR CHIEF MARSHAL NORMAN ANIL KUMAR BROWNE, SAYING: "When you are doing rescue missions, when you pick up survivors, please remember the operational risk factor is always considered very very closely, as compared to the mission that you have to accomplish. And it's reviewed almost on a daily mission basis, it is not on a stand alone basis. So our crews are absolutely highly qualified, they are very capable of doing this. In fact, there are a number of times they have returned because they could not get through because of weather. So we leave the decision to them, they are highly trained and motivated and we will make sure that the job will be done." KEDARNATH, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA (JUNE 25, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) CLOUDS OVER MOUNTAINS VARIOUS OF HELICOPTER FLYING OVER VALLEY WITH LOW CLOUD VARIOUS OF HELICOPTER COMING DOWN TO LAND NEAR FLOOD VICTIMS AND THEIR BELONGINGS
- Embargoed: 11th July 2013 21:45
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: Disasters,Environment,Transport
- Reuters ID: LVACAY36229J6HE7W09SE4QOXW8T
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Twenty people died when a rescue helicopter crashed in India's flood-hit northern Uttarakhand state on Tuesday, chief of air staff, Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne confirmed on Wednesday (June 26).
"When this happened we sent a team, some time in the evening, to slither down certain Garud forces, commandos, seven of them, and they have reported to us that there are no survivors in this group. There were 20 people on board, five from the air force as part of the group, there were nine from the NDRF and six from the ITBP, totalling to 20," Browne said.
He stressed that rescue crews are highly trained and the risk of air operations is being reviewed regularly.
"When you are doing rescue missions, when you pick up survivors, please remember the operational risk factor is always considered very very closely, as compared to the mission that you have to accomplish. And it's reviewed almost on a daily mission basis, it is not on a stand alone basis. So our crews are absolutely highly qualified, they are very capable of doing this. In fact, there are a number of times they have returned because they could not get through because of weather. So we leave the decision to them, they are highly trained and motivated and we will make sure that the job will be done."
Floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains more than 10 days ago have killed at least 822 people in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand and forced tens of thousands from their homes.
The disaster - the worst floods India has witnessed since 2008 when around 500 died in the eastern state of Bihar - has swept away buildings, washed away farmland and destroyed major roads and bridges.
Heavy rains over the last two days have hampered rescue operations by the army and air force who have been air lifting survivors.
Many of those stranded are pilgrims who visit the region for its sacred Hindu temples and shrines.
Television channels broadcast dramatic pictures of desperate pilgrims scrambling to get aboard dozens of military helicopters which have been ferrying people to safety. Around 96,500 people have so far been evacuated by land and air, according to media reports. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None