2 Pilots Succumb to Injuries After Army Chopper Crashes in J&K's Udhampur
The pilots had earlier been taken to the Command hospital in Udhampur, where they succumbed to their injuries.
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Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam
The two pilots critically injured after an Indian Army helicopter crashed near the Patnitop area in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir, succumbed to their injuries on Tuesday, 21 September.
"Maj Rohit Kumar and Maj Anuj Rajput will live in our hearts forever. We Salute them and extend deepest condolences to the aggrieved families," Udhampur public relations officer, Ministry of Defence, said in a tweet.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian Army Cheetah helicopter was forced to crash land, leaving the pilots injured. They had been taken to the Command hospital in Udhampur.
Some villagers were first to arrive at the scene of the accident. A search team was rushed to the area.
According to Hindustan Times, the chopper was on a training sortie and had taken off from Nagrota, the headquarters of 16 Corps.
According to PTI, the incident occurred between 10:30 am and 10:45 am on Tuesday.
India Today reported, quoting the police, that excessive fog in the area caused a reduction in visibility, which may have led to the accident.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Jitendra Singh expressed his condolences over the death of the pilots.
"Saddened to receive the news of death of both the Pilots who were injured this morning in the Army Helicopter crash in #Patnitop region of #JammuAndKashmir. Despite prompt and best possible aid, they could not be saved. My deep condolences to the bereaved families," he stated on Twitter.
(With inputs from ANI, PTI, Hindustan Times, and India Today.)
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