2 Army officers die in chopper crash

The two pilots were identified as Major Bhanu Chander and Major Atul Garje. The chopper crashed between two bungalows.

Major Garje,who was based in Ahmednagar,leaves behind his three-month-old daughter and his wife. Major Bhanu was married only six months ago and hailed from Vizag,an Army official said.

According to field officers of the 665 Army Aviation Squadron,the two were on their way from Rajasthan to Bangalore on a ‘maintenance’ flight.

A preliminary probe pointed to a ‘technical snag’. An Army spokesperson said the two were supposed to refuel in Pune on their way to Bangalore.

“They tried to ensure zero casualties. Only one rotor blade scraped the roof of bungalow. They tried their best not to risk civilian casualties,” said senior police inspector J N Kadhare. An Army team inspected the site,he said.

Kishore Jachak,a resident,said a school bus with children was at the turn of the road where the crash happened. “When the driver saw it coming down,he braked,” he said .

“The incident has shaken all of us. We have in the past raised concerns over helicopters hovering above during training sessions. We are going to appeal to ensure they stop flying over our colony.”

Meera Patil,a teacher in whose garden the chopper crashed,said she was in her school when she heard about the crash.

“My neighbours asked me to rush as a helicopter had crashed in our garden. We are lucky that our house was saved but when I reached the spot and saw the bodies I felt sad,” Patil said.