Minister, MLAs among 10 dead in Pawan Hans chopper crash

Ten persons, including Meghalaya Community and Rural Development Minister Cyprian Sangma, two MLAs and a former Deputy Speaker were killed when a Pawan Hans helicopter crashed near Shillong this afternoon.

The chopper went down in bad weather, killing eight passengers and two crew members. On board with Sangma were MLAs Heltone Marak and Ardhendu Chaudhuri and former Deputy Speaker Ira Marak.

IAF officials said two helicopters went out on a rescue mission following an SOS from the Barapani air traffic control. The Pawan Hans helicopter caught fire when it crashed and there were no survivors.

Meghalaya officials said the chopper was flying to Shillong from Tura in West Garo Hills via Guwahati. It went missing after it ran into bad weather near Shillong.