GUWAHATI: Rain and low clouds cut short aerial search operations for the missing AN-32 aircraft of Indian Air Force which entered its seventh day on Sunday.
Defence sources here said helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and C-130J aircraft were airborne for search missions, but had to land back owing to rain and inclement weather.
“No SAR (search and rescue) could take place today due to bad weather and low clouds. SAR by ground party is on,” an official statement said.
Ground teams comprising Indian Army, ITBP, state police and members of the local population have been continuing the search over the past few days but with no trace of the aircraft that went missing with 13 air warriors on board last Monday.
The aircraft had got airborne from IAF’s Jorhat Airbase in Assam for Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground in West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh on Monday afternoon but lost contact.
Indian Air Force subsequently launched a massive search to trace the aircraft with resources from various agencies, including ISRO brought into the operation to enhance its effectiveness.
The area of search is mountainous and heavily forested with thick undergrowth. Coupled with the inhospitable terrain, the weather has posed serious challenges to aerial search operations.
Indian Air Force has increased the deployment of its helicopters and transport aircraft and expanded the search area significantly since the beginning of the operations.