At least four persons, including Director General of Rangers Punjab, Major General Muhammad Nawaz , pilot Lieutenant Colonel Aamer Abbas, PRO to D-G, Rangers, and another person died on Wednesday when a helicopter Ghazi-16 fell into the deep water of river Indus near Kot Sultan in Layyah district, some 150 km west of here.
The ISPR confirmed the crash into the River Indus, which had taken off from the Dera Ismail Khan on operational duty. Rescue teams were rushed to find the wreckage of the helicopter and the bodies. DPO Layyah Muhammad Saleem said, "Helicopter caught fire in the air due to windstorm; then pilot Aamer Abbas contacted Multan tower at 10-12 am and informed it that he was coming to Multan, but it fell into the deep water of River Indus near village Bukhri Ahmed (Kot Sultan)."
The DPO said that one body was recovered from the river, but could not be recognised. Ranger sources said that Capt Asif Nawaz, son of Major General Muhammad Nawaz, was also on board the helicopter. Eyewitnesses said that they saw the helicopter engulfed in flames When contacted, Rangers, Punjab office in Lahore declined to confirm the death of Director General, Punjab, and others. Rescue workers recovered two bodies.
Police said that the crashed helicopter belonged to Punjab Rangers, and was on a routine mission. Local sources said that D G Rangers, Major General Muhammad Nawaz, two captains and one colonel were on board the ill-fated helicopter.
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