While the search for the missing AN-31 aircraft is on, Indian Air Force (IAF) has announced a cash award of Rs 5 Lakhs for the person(s) or group who provide credible information leading to finding of the aircraft.
Air Marshal RD Mathur, AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command, has announced this on Saturday evening, said a defence spokesperson in a statement.
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Finder may contact Air Force on the following numbers–Landline: 0378-3222164, mobile no: 9436499477 / 9402077267 / 9402132477.
IAF is using all it’s assets and taking help of the Army, Arunachal Pradesh civil authorities and other national agencies to locate the missing aircraft.
The Arunachal Pradesh government has also announced a reward of Rs. 50,000 for anyone who can provide some clue about the missing aircraft.
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The Siang district administration of Arunachal Pradesh announced the reward to anyone who can provide the information or any clue about the IAF’s AN-32, which have remained missing since Monday afternoon.
Apart from the search operation for the missing IAF AN-32 aircraft being carried out by the Indian Air Force, Army and Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), a search operation jointly being carried out by district administration and Police department of Siang district has entered its 5th day on Saturday.
“The ongoing search operation is being carried out by a team consisting of police, civilians, hunters and locals who have been continuously scouting the area. Additionally, all GBs (village Authorities) have been engaged to carry out the search operation,” said a senior district administration official.
Meanwhile, bad weather has hampered the search and rescue operation for the missing AN-32 aircraft and the 13 warrior on board the aircraft of the Indian Air Force on Saturday. However, the search operation resumed at noon as the weather condition improved.
Indian air Force, Army, ITBP and civil administration along with police officials have also been searching the missing aircraft on the ground besides the aerial search.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has also used its RISAT satellite to trace the missing aircraft. However, all the efforts have failed to trace the aircraft, leading to anxieties among the family members of the 13 air warriors.
Some of the family members of those onboard the aircraft have already reached Jorhat and waiting anxiously about some breakthrough any moment.
The IAF said that it is not sparing any effort in locating the missing air warriors. ‘We stand in support of the families in these difficult times,” Singh said.
The IAF had already deployed services of four Mi-17, three ALH, two Su-30 MKI, one C-130, two Cheetah helicopters and one Army UAV to carry out the search.
Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa visits Jorhat station
Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Saturday visited IAF’s Jorhat station in Assam to review the ongoing search operations for the AN-32 missing aircraft.
He was given a detailed briefing about the operations and was apprised with the inputs received so far, said a defence PRO.
Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa also interacted with families of the officers and airmen who were onboard the aircraft.