Indian Air Force's Mi-17 chopper crashes in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam, 2 dead

A Mi-17 transport of the Indian Air Force crashed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam area on Wednesday morning. Two bodies have been found at the crash site, an official has said. "Some aircraft has fallen. As of now we aren't in a position to ascertain anything. Technical team is here, they will ascertain facts. We have found two bodies so far and have evacuated them. Search is going on here,” SSP Budgam said. Srinagar airport has also been shut down following the crash. Jammu and Kashmir Police and Indian Air Force personnel have rushed to the spot.

The incident comes a day after the IAF’s successful counter-terror air strike in Pakistan’s Balakot area in which Jaish-e-Mohammed’s major terror camp was completely destroyed.

Since the air strike, the Line of Control has witnessed heavy firing from Pakistani side. In powerful retaliation, Indian forces bombed five forward posts across the LoC. The February 14 attack in Pulwama that claimed lives of 40 CRPF personnel has sparked the most tense episode in Indo-Pak bilateral ties. The February 26 air strike has just added to the issue. The flare-up between two nuclear powers is being watched closely by the world powers.