No survivors in Arunachal chopper crash

New Delhi: Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Dorjee Khandu and four others may not have survived the crash of the helicopter which crashed into a mountainside on Saturday, according to the country's home minister. According to sketchy reports from villagers who have reached the crash site two bodies had been identified while three others are charred beyond recognition.

"From whatever I can piece together from the information given by the villagers and assuming it to be true, I am afraid the news is grim and sad," home minister P Chidambaram told reporters here in his second update on the search operations.

"These are interrupted communications by villagers who have reached the site. But no official of the government, army or police has been able to reach there," he said.

"It may take several hours for any of these officials to reach the spot because it is about five kilometres from Kyela," Chidambaram said.

Union minister for development of north eastern region BK Handique said in Itanagar that a relative and panchayat leader, Thupten, of Dorjee Khandu's assembly constituency had identified the 56 year old CM's body. He is also reported to have said that the bodies of four others are charred beyond recognition.

The minister, however, said that only after the divisional commissioner takes charge of the body and the formalities are completed, could they officially confirm the passing away of Dorjee.