On August 3rd, an Indian Army helicopter crashed into the Ranjit Sagar Dam lake in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district. Indian rescue teams immediately rushed to the scene and later declared the two pilots missing.
After a week’s worth of search, the Indian Army failed to recover the missing pilots. However, as per media reports, the Army officially announced that it is using international assistance to trace the missing pilots.
“Experts and equipment from the Army, Navy, IAF, NDRF, SDRF, NGOs, state police, dam authority, and private firms from all over the country have been put into action,” said Lt Col Anand.
“Experts and specialized equipment and divers are flying in. International assistance is also being sought,” he further added.
The Indian Army did not disclose which country, however, there are speculations that the Indian Army is asking Israel for help.
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According to Indian media, sources in the defense establishment claimed that authorities will approach Israel for special equipment. Allegedly Israel’s special equipment can operate underwater at a much lower depth than Indian systems. As a result, they will be more suitable for the area.
The development came after one of the missing pilot’s brother took to Twitter to criticize the Indian Navy and Army for their unsuccessful attempts.
“We have lost all hope at this point. The anticipation, the wait, and day after day of futile search by the Navy and Army are torture for our mother who has to wait every day to hear any new,” he tweeted.
The Western Command then responded in a series of tweets. They said the Army is coordinating search and rescue efforts of the Indian Navy and Indian Army.
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Military authorities are leaving no stone unturned to search for the helicopter which crashed and sank into the Ranjit Sagar Reservoir on 03rd August along with two pilots. The expansive reservoir is 25kms long, 8kms wide and more than 500 feet deep. https://t.co/M40jYEQESg— Western Command – Indian Army (@westerncomd_IA) August 9, 2021
The crash of August 3rd
An Indian Army helicopter crashed into the Ranjit Sagar Dam lake in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on August 3rd.
The Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) belonged to Army Aviation and was a Weapon System Integrated helicopter.
According to locals, the chopper used to hover over the dam and drop a pipe into the water every day. However, it crashed the moment it dropped the pipe.
Read more: Indian Army helicopter crashes into a lake in IOK’s Kathua district
India’s relations with Israel
The two country’s diplomatic relations are friendly, with Israel helping India on various occasions.
During India’s Covid crisis, Israel sent multiple shipments of medical equipment to India. The shipment included oxygen generators, ventilators, and medicine.
Furthermore, Israel is India’s second-largest defense supplier after Russia. From 1999 to 2009, the military business between the two nations was worth around $9 billion.
Military and strategic ties between the two nations extend to intelligence sharing on terrorist groups and joint military training.
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