Itanagar:
Seventeen persons were feared killed when a Pawan Hans helicopter with 23 people on board caught fire and crashed into a gorge while landing in Tawang town in Arunachal Pradesh today.
Tawang District Commissioner G Padu said 17 of those on board were 'presumed dead', while six were rescued.
The helicopter, which had taken off from Guwahati at 1315 hrs, crashed near the helipad on a hilltop in Tawang town falling from a height of 15 metre into the gorge, Pawan Hans sources said.
The helicopter had 18 passengers on board, including two children. The five-member crew included Captain Barun Gupta and Captain Tiwari.
Rescue operations were continuing, the District Commissioner said.