From Our Special Correspondent
GUWAHATI: Efforts to trace the missing AN-32 aircraft of Indian Air Force were hindered by inclement weather on the third day of the search operations on Wednesday.
Official sources said that supported by Indian Army and Indian Navy, police and state administration the search efforts by ground teams and airborne sensors will continue through the night.
Two SUs and C-130J aircraft will be carrying out night missions to locate the missing aircraft.
Earlier in the day, IAF and Indian Army helicopters were deployed to trace the aircraft.
IAF has intensified efforts to locate the missing aircraft since Tuesday, a day after the plane with 13 on board took off from Jorhat airbase in Assam for Mechuka advance landing ground on Arunachal Pradesh on Monday afternoon and lost contact.
Despite challenges posed by vegetation, inhospitable terrain and poor weather, the search has been expanded, the sources said.
All leads from airborne sensors are being closely assessed and followed-up with search by aircraft and ground teams.
The IAF has been regularly updating the families of all air-warriors on board the aircraft about the rescue operation.
Military sources said rescuers have not received any signal from the emergency locator beacon in the missing plane, adding there is a possibility that the device may not have been functional. They said the plane that went missing is yet to be upgraded with latest avionics and radars, though some of the AN-32 were strengthened with advanced systems.
