Sunday, October 16 2005 15:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: A Pakistani military helicopter involved in relief operation for quake victims in the worst-hit PoK has crashed, killing all six people aboard, including four officers, defence spokesman Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan said today (Oct 16, 2005).

The MI-17 helicopter drafted for relief operation in the Bagh area of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir went missing last evening and rescue teams found the wreckage of the crashed chopper early today, he told the media here.

Those killed included four officers and two technical staff, Sultan said, adding that an inquiry has been ordered whether it crashed due to bad weather or technical snag.

The chopper apparently was not carrying any injured persons when it crashed.

The crash came after the relief operation using choppers was virtually called off due to bad weather. The helicopters sorties had not begun till this morning, officials here said.

There had been a continuous downpour in Islamabad and other parts of Pakistan since last night, adding to misery of quake victims, many of whom remained without shelter and blankets. Reports from PoK also said that temperature has dropped considerably in the night as the winter is setting in there.

This was the second major accident involving relief helicopters as earlier two choppers one each from US and Pakistan suffered damage after they got entangled in tree branches while flying low in the quake-hit areas of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The crew escaped unhurt and the choppers were brought to their bases for repairs.

Last night's chopper crash is seen as a setback to the relief mission for quake victims in PoK and NWFP. About 70 helicopters, including 25 from Pakistan Army's aviation wing, are currently taking part in the relief operations following the October 8 deadly earthquake.

A host of countries, including the US, Germany and Afghanistan, have dispatched helicopters to quake-hit areas as they remained mainstay of relief operations in the mountainous and remote regions of PoK and NWFP.

According to official estimates, about 40,000 were killed in PoK alone and over 65,000 injured in both the areas.