3 heli-skiers and crew survives helicopter crash in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 17 (UNI) Three French skiers and a pilot survived yesterday's helicopter crash in Sonmarg area in Jammu and Kashmir.

They were feared dead after they lost contact with Air Traffic Control (ATC) in Srinagar while it was flying over Sonmarg area yesterday.

Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) General Manager Fayaz Ahmad Bala told UNI that an information was received this morning that all the skiers and crew member had survived the crash.

A CRPF spoksman said that skiers, including a woman, got in touch with a CRPF camp in the area early this morning.

They were provided all assistance in the camp, he said adding later they were taken to Hotel Grand Palace where they are staying.

However, the pilot, who too survived the crash, was still in the helicopter and efforts are being made to bring him down, he said.

Filipino helicopter carrying three French skiers and a pilot was scheduled to land at Nehru helipad at 1130 hours yesterday, Mr Fayaz said.

A police spokesman told UNI that a number of police teams were rushed to the area from different areas to locate the skiers and helicopter.

Mr Saudan, who introduced heli-skiing in the Kashmir valley in late eighties before the eruption of militancy, had brought 50 skiers from France and other European countries this time.

However, majority of them had returned to their countries after participating in heli-skiing while others were waiting for their turn in a local hotel here, Mr Fayaz said.

This time Mr Saudan has brought a helicopter along with crew from Philipines, official sources said.

Heli-skiing is a sport in which a helicopter drops skiers on the top of a mountain who later ski down to the base camp.

Mr Fayaz Saudan started the heli-skiing again this year after government refused persmission to him in 1998 for security reasons.

Mr Saudan was using state helicopter for the sport in the past.

However,this time he brought a helicopter along with him, Mr Fayaz said adding JKTDC played an active role to get clearance from the Defence and Union Tourism ministries.

UNI