Itanagar: The fate of the missing AN-32 aircraft with 13 persons on board is still unknown even though the Indian Army, local administration and paramilitary forces continue with their search and rescue operations a day after the incident on Monday.
Deputy commissioners of five districts have been pressed in with the forces to amplify the search operation which is underway since Monday, said Arunachal Pradesh home minister Bamang Felix.
Felix has also appealed the locals of the districts to help the administration with the operations.
The Indian Navy has deployed a P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft from INS Rajali, Arakonam in Tamil Nadu to join the ongoing search and rescue operation. This aircraft left at 1 pm on Tuesday.
The aircraft shall carry out search with electro-optical and infrared (EO&IR) sensors in the thickly forested areas.
”#IndianNavy Long Range Maritime Reconnaisance aircraft P8i takes off from INS Rajali, Arakonam, Tamil Nadu at 1300h and heads for joining the Search & Rescue operation launched by @IAF_MCC to locate the missing #AN32 between Jorhat & Mechuka. Aircraft to reach in area shortly,” the Indian Navy tweeted.
Also Read: Missing AN-32 plane: A day on, search ops resume, ITBP joins team
An AN-32 aircraft belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF) went missing about 35 minutes after take-off from Jorhat in Assam.
The aircraft took off from Jorhat around 12.25 pm on Monday and was flying to the Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground in Arunachal Pradesh’s Shi Yomi district when it went missing near Aalo around 1 pm. It was carrying 13 passengers on board.
