Rescue copter crash: 19 bodies found; more bad weather ahead

All 20 people on board a helicopter that crashed on Tuesday while on a rescue mission in Uttarakhand have died, it was confirmed today.

Earlier reports said eight people had died (See: IAF copter crashes during Uttarakhand rescue ops; 8 killed); but Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne today confirmed that the number was 20. Five of them were from the Air Force; the others belonged to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

Commandos are searching the narrow valley where the Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter crashed for one missing body. The other 19 have been found.

The soldiers, police and rescue workers were flying back from Kedarnath, the part of Uttarakhand state that took the worst beating in the flash floods and landslide which have killed at least 1,000 since 15 June. The death toll is expected to increase considerably when flood waters recede, revealing the true scale of the disaster in villages that remain cut off. 

The incident underlines the hazards of flying helicopters in the Himalayas, particularly in poor weather; and adds a new dimension to a tragedy of truly Himalayan proportions. In fact, the weather department warned today that helicopter movement is risky as heavy isolated showers are likely in pockets of the state.

The air chief said the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder of the helicopter have been recovered.  It's not clear yet if the crash was caused by bad weather or technical problems, he said.

"Our men take calculated risks; that's their job," Browne told reporters this morning. "I told my troops that like in a war, you have to just keep going on.''

Meanwhile, Air rescue operations have resumed between Badrinath and Joshimath thanks to a let up in the rain.

However choppers are grounded in Phata and Gaurikund where rain has resumed. Gaurikund is the site of Tuesday's crash of the rescue copter.