At least 12 killed as MI-17 helicopter crashes near Mansehra

MANSEHRA: At least 12 Army personnel, including five Majors, were martyred in an Army Aviation MI-17 helicopter crash near Lassan Nawab area of Mansehra on Thursday evening.

District Police Officer (DPO) Najeeb-ur-Rehman said that according to locals, 12 people have been confirmed dead in the incident.

The charred corpses were burnt beyond recognition and the aircraft, which was carrying aid supplies, was still on fire in the evening, he added.

An official of the ISPR confirmed the incident, adding that the helicopter was carrying relief items and medicines for flood affectees to Gilgit.

“Emergency has been declared in all hospitals,” said Deputy Commissioner Aamir Khattak.

According to sources, the helicopter was enroute from Rawalpindi to Gilgit when it crashed near Lassan Nawab, a valley about 32 kilometers from Mansehra District in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

The incident most likely took place due to rough weather.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif commiserated with the families of the deceased on this tragic incident.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also expressed sorrow and grief over the crash. He directed the local administration to provide assistance in rescue and relief efforts.

The martyred personnel include; Major Humayun (Pilot), Major Muzammil (Pilot), Major Shahzad (Doctor), Major Atif (Doctor), Major Usman (Doctor), Havaldar Munir Abbasi, Nursing Assistant Amanullah, Naik Amir Saeed, Naik OT Maqbool, Sepoy Rehmat-ullah and Sepoy Waqar.