rotorcraig
16th Oct 2005, 07:33
From BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4346476.stm)
Quake helicopter crash kills six
Six Pakistani soldiers have died in a helicopter crash while returning from an earthquake aid mission, as heavy rain again hampered relief efforts.
The MI-17 helicopter had just delivered aid to the town of Bagh in Pakistan-administered Kashmir when it came down late on Saturday.
Almost 40,000 people were killed when the quake struck on 8 October.
Kashmiri politicians have now called for the Line of Control that divides the region to be opened to aid relief.
Grounded
Pakistani military spokesman Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan said wreckage of the MI-17 was found by a search party near the town of Chapri.
All those on board - four officers and two other soldiers - were killed.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known but Gen Sultan said strong winds and heavy rain were disrupting relief work in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the northern region.
Dozens of Pakistani and American helicopters flying from the main logistical base near Islamabad had to suspend their operations due to bad weather.
Gen Sultan said the flights would resume only when the weather improved.
Helicopters are vital to the relief effort as many communities and thousands of villagers are still cut off by landslides that swept the roads away.
Quake helicopter crash kills six
Six Pakistani soldiers have died in a helicopter crash while returning from an earthquake aid mission, as heavy rain again hampered relief efforts.
The MI-17 helicopter had just delivered aid to the town of Bagh in Pakistan-administered Kashmir when it came down late on Saturday.
Almost 40,000 people were killed when the quake struck on 8 October.
Kashmiri politicians have now called for the Line of Control that divides the region to be opened to aid relief.
Grounded
Pakistani military spokesman Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan said wreckage of the MI-17 was found by a search party near the town of Chapri.
All those on board - four officers and two other soldiers - were killed.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known but Gen Sultan said strong winds and heavy rain were disrupting relief work in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the northern region.
Dozens of Pakistani and American helicopters flying from the main logistical base near Islamabad had to suspend their operations due to bad weather.
Gen Sultan said the flights would resume only when the weather improved.
Helicopters are vital to the relief effort as many communities and thousands of villagers are still cut off by landslides that swept the roads away.