ITANAGAR: Residents of an Arunachal Pradesh village Thursday said they had seen thick black smoke billowing from a mountain on Monday, the day an Indian Air Force aircraft carrying 13 people went missing, prompting authorities to verify the claim.
As efforts to locate the missing plane continued, Chief Minister Pema Khandu called up deputy commissioners of Siang, West Siang, Lower Siang and Shi-Yomi districts and directed them to intensify the search operation.
The authorities of Siang and West Siang districts have formed three teams to carry out searches in as many mountain ranges on the aircraft’s route, a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said here.
Three people from Tumbin village said that on Monday afternoon they had seen thick black smoke originating from a mountain towards Molo village in Siang district. “This is being verified,” Director General of Police S B K Sing informed the CMO. (AGENCIES)
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