PAF helicopter carrying flood relief goods crash-lands in Chitral

MI-17 helicopter was being used by PAF to transport relief goods for flood victims

A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) helicopter, which was carrying flood reliefs goods, was forced to make an emergency landing in Chitral after developing a technical fault, Express News reported.

Reports said PAF’s MI-17 helicopter crash-landed in the Mastuj area of Chitral after it is said to have been partially damaged while carrying out flood relief activities in the region.

According to details, the military helicopter was rescuing 13 people in Chitral, in addition to evacuating a dead body. As it took off again, it hit a tree and crashed into a house. Resultantly, some of the passengers on board sustained minor injuries.

An eyewitness informed that smoke was rising from the site of the crash.

Deputy Superintendent Police Darosh Mohammad Zafar was also among the people boarded on military helicopter for Chitral at Kahoot. He is reportedly safe and escaped unscathed.

Read: Rescue operation: Army chief visits flood-hit DG Khan

Pakistan's armed forces are busy carrying out relief operations across the country, including Chitral, as floods continue to ravage various parts of Pakistan.

Earlier on Wednesday, ISPR stated that Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif visited flood affected areas of Chitral where he was had been given a detailed briefing by local military commanders on the rescue and relief efforts by Pakistan Army, FWO and FC.

General Raheel directed FWO to keep the communication infrastructure of Chitral open and also lauded the efforts of  FWO, army troops and army aviation in rescue operations.

On Tuesday, the army chief visited flood-hit areas of Layyah in Dera Ghazi Khan Division to review the on-going rescue and flood relief operations.

Read: Assistance plan: NDMA shores up relief efforts in Chitral

According to the ISPR, the army chief expressed his deepest regret over the loss of life and property and assured the flood victims that the military would stand by them till their complete rehabilitation.