HP: Army chopper crashes killing pilot, co-pilot

Chandigarh, May 24: A Cheetah Army aviation helicopter crashed near Bhavnagar in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh killing the pilot and co-pilot this morning, a defence release from the Western Command here stated.

The helicopter was on return flight from Bhavnagar to Karcham when the crash occured. The helicopter caught fire during the accident and the pilots, Lt Col J M P D'Counha and Maj Puneet Karol are presumed to have died in the accident.

Rescue operation has been launched in the area and the cause of accident is being ascertained. The crash occured at 1050 hours.

UNI