BAJAUR, Aug 15 – A Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government helicopter crashed near Chengai Banda in Soki, killing five people on board, including two pilots, officials confirmed on Friday.
According to KP Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, the helicopter was en route to Bajaur for relief operations when contact was lost due to bad weather. The aircraft, identified as an MI-17, went down under unknown circumstances.
According to initial reports, five crew members were onboard the Mi-172 helicopter, including Col Shahid and Gp Capt Aftab. Authorities have confirmed that there are no survivors. The crash occurred due to severe weather conditions.
The relief mission was part of emergency operations in Bajaur’s Salarzai tehsil, where flash floods last night destroyed multiple homes, washed away roads and bridges, and caused significant damage to infrastructure.
Rescue officials reported that so far, 21 bodies have been recovered from various incidents related to the flooding, while seven people remain missing. Three injured victims have been given first aid and shifted to hospital.