Accident Claims Six Returning From Bringing Supplies To Earthquake Victims

A Pakistani Mi-17 helicopter went down Saturday night as it was returning from ferrying supplies to survivors of the devastating earthquake last week. The six people onboard, listed as four army officers and two civilians, were confirmed dead.

There were unconfirmed reports the Russian-built military helicopter (file photo of type, above) may have gone down in heavy rain and cloud cover, although Maj. Gen. Javed Aslam Tahir with Pakistan's Army reported conditions were good at the time of the accident.

He did acknowledge, however, conditions were changing and relief efforts would have to be adjusted accordingly, according to news reports. Tahir stressed such efforts would continue nonetheless, to aid the survivors of the devastating 7.6 earthquake that struck the region October 9.

The Russian-built military helicopter had just dropped relief supplies in the Bagh, on the Pakistan-controlled side of the disputed Kashmir region, before it went down Saturday evening near the town of Chapri. Pakistani army officials reported they lost contact with the aircraft around the same time.

Relief flights were suspended earlier this week, as heavy downpours and low cloud cover created hazardous flying conditions for aircraft bringing supplies to survivors. Snow has also fallen in the surrounding Himalaya mountains.

As was reported in Aero-News, Pakistan earlier asked neighboring countries -- and even accepted an offer of aid from its bitter rival India -- for additional helicopters to assist the relief effort. The United States has also sent eight choppers, five of them CH-47 Chinooks, to assist in rescue efforts and carrying supplies to survivors. Two Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs and three C-130 Hercules aircraft are also involved in the effort.

Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, said Saturday as many as 38,000 had been confirmed dead in the earthquake's aftermath. The number could rise further still as teams are just now reaching more remote villages.

India has reported 1,350 casualties in the earthquake.

FMI: www.infopak.gov.pk/