Srinagar:An Army Cheetah helicopter on its way to pick up sick BSF personnel crashed near the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir's Gurez Sector on Friday, resulting in the death of its co-pilot and injuries to the pilot. The helicopter lost communication with the forward post at Gujran, Baraub. A search operation on foot was immediately launched by the Indian army and rescue helicopters were pressed into service.
The wreckage of the crashed helicopter was found in snowbound Gujran Nallah area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora. Pilot and the co-pilot of the helicopter were grievously injured in the crash and were immediately evacuated to Command Hospital, Udhampur. Major Sankalp Yadav, 29 years old, was the co-pilot and he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The injured pilot is critical, however stable and is presently in Command Hospital, Udhampur. Events leading to the crash of the helicopter are being ascertained.
The two pilots belonged to the Army Aviation Corps and were of the rank of major. Major Sankalp Yadav was commissioned in 2015 and was a resident of Jaipur, Rajasthan. He is survived by his father.