Rescue operation halted in AN-32 crash site as IAF mountaineers face adverse weather

Indian Air Force(IAF) on Wednesday mobilised fifteen personnel for rescue operation of the AN-32 transport aircraft which crashed on June 3. 

However, adverse weather conditions and difficult terrain have halted their progress, forcing the rescuers to camp overnight

The wreckage of the plane was found around 16 kilometres north of the lipo area in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday, at a height of twelve thousand feet.

The 15-member team comprising of nine climbers from the IAF mountaineering team including four from the Indian Army and two civilians have been trying to get to the crash area since Wednesday.

"The terrain weather and thick vegetation is slowing down the progress of rescue team," the IAF said in a tweet.

Garuds of the IAF are part of the recovery party dropped by helicopter near the crash site, where a camp has been established, it added.

The AN-32 aircraft with 13 people on board – eight officers and five passengers had taken off from the Jorhat air base around 12:25 pm on June 3 and was headed for Mechuka - an advanced landing ground in Arunachal Pradesh closer to the Chinese border. 

The transport aircraft lost contact with the radar and ground staff and did not reach the Mechuka air base at its scheduled landing time at 1pm the same day.  

The wreckage of the aircraft was located following an eight-day search operation.