M A I N   N E W S

Brigadier among 5 killed in copter crash
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 30 — Five Armymen, including a Brigadier, were killed in a helicopter crash at the Sanjichhat helipad near the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine today.

The police said the five Army men were escorting the GoC-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt-Gen H.M. Khanna, who was flying in another Chetak helicopter to visit the holy shrine and offer prayers.

As soon as the helicopter started landing on the Sanjichat helipad it crashed killing all five Army men on the spot.

The deceased have been identified as Brig Raman Sehgal, Military Secretary to the GoC-in-Chief, Northern Command, Major S. Lohchup, Capt R. Garg, and para commandos Raman Carpenter and Sunil Shashtri.

Reports reaching here said General Khanna and members of his family were safe as they were on board another helicopter.

Shocked over the incident, General Khanna returned to the Northern Command Headquarters without offering prayers at the shrine.