The Pakistan Inter-Services Public Relations confirmed on Monday that a Pakistan Army aviation helicopter that was operating in Lasbela, Baluchistan, has disappeared. As the Pakistan Army’s aviation helicopter lost contact with air traffic control during a flood relief operation in Balochistan province, six senior officers, including a top commander of XII Corps, are believed to have perished.
“Pakistani army aviation helicopter lost contact with Air Traffic Control while on flood relief operations in Lasbela, Balochistan. In addition to the Commander of 12 Corps, who was overseeing flood relief operations in Balochistan, there were six other individuals on board. In a tweet on Monday, Major General Babar Iftikhar, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations – the media branch of Pakistan’s armed forces – announced that the search is underway. A flood relief operation in Balochistan province was being overseen by the Commander XII Corps Lt Gen Sarfraz Ali, among the six individuals on board.
According to the Express Tribune newspaper, General Sarfraz was one of the candidates interviewed by former prime minister Imran Khan for the post of director general of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in October last year.
As Pakistan’s defence attaché to the United States, he provided assistance to Pakistan’s defence forces. Among the other crew members were Major Syed the pilot and Major Talha the copilot, Brigadier Amjad the director-general of the coast guards, Engineer Brigadier Khalid and Chief Naik Muddasar the chief officer.
- On Monday, a helicopter crashed in the mountainous region of Lasbela near a place called Sassi Pannu, according to a police source.
- Officials said the helicopter lost contact with the air traffic controller after taking off from Uthal at 5:10 pm on Monday.
- Soldiers and police were busy searching for the helicopter on Tuesday. However, they were hindered by difficult terrain and damaged roads caused by the floods in the region.
- The incident raised the concerns of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
There are serious concerns surrounding the disappearance of a helicopter belonging to Army Aviation. “The whole nation bows in submission to Allah in prayer for safe returns of flood relief workers,” he tweeted.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Tweeted
I hope all those on board the missing army helicopter are safe and well.” Heavy rains and flash floods in Balochistan have taken the lives of 147 people. Imran Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, tweeted: “Disturbing news of army aviation helicopter disappearing. PTI praying for all those on board.” Relief programs are currently being provided to displace people in the province by the civil authorities and the Pakistan Army.
Further details are underway
As a result of ongoing floods in parts of the country, the Pakistan Army began rescuing and providing relief to thousands of stranded people across Balochistan, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
It has been raining in Balochistan for 467 percent more than usual since July 1, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Recent rain and flash floods in Balochistan have affected 29 districts, including Lasbela, Kech, Quetta, Sibbi, Khuzdar and Kohlu.