Two Pilots Dead after Helicopter Crash Lands

Two pilots of the Army Aviation Corps have succumbed to injuries following a helicopter crash at Shiv Garh Dhar area in near Patnitop tourist resort in Udhampur district. 

According to reports, the two pilots were on a routine training sortie. 

Local villagers were first in responding to the accident and offered help to the injured pilots - Major Rohit Kumar of Ace City, Noida West, Uttar Pradesh, and Major Anuj Rajput of Panchkula, Haryana.

Condolences has been pouring for the two deceased pilots on social media.

"I salute the courage and supreme sacrifice of our braveheart army officers Major Rohit Kumar & Major Anuj Rajput who laid down their lives in the line of duty at Patnitop, Udhampur. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief," lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha tweeted.

Northern Army commander Lt Gen YK Joshi has also offered his heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Indian army and said that the all the ranks salutes the supreme sacrifice of the two brave hearts in the line of duty.

Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh while expressing his grief over the death of the two pilots tweeted,"Saddened to receive the news of death of both the pilots who were injured this morning in the army helicopter crash in #Patnitop region of #JammuAndKashmir. Despite prompt and best possible aid, they could not be saved. My deep condolences to the bereaved families".

According to local officials, police and the army rushed to the site of accident for rescue operation. They were taken to a nearby hospital but the two pilots could not be saved and succumbed to injuries.