New Delhi: Thirty-one people were killed in accidents involving 15 military helicopters since March 2017 that included the December 8 crash of the Mi-17V5 near Coonoor, according to details provided by the government in Lok Sabha on Friday.
The 15 choppers that met with accidents included four Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), four Cheetah, two ALH (weapon system integrated) versions, three Mi-17V5, an Mi-17 and a Chetak.
Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt shared the details of all helicopter accidents in the last five years in all three services. He was replying to a question.
The list of crashes provided by him began with the accident involving a Cheetah helicopter of the Indian Air Force on March 15, 2017, in which no one was killed or injured.
Seven helicopters each from the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force were involved in accidents during the period while the number from the Navy was one, according to the details.
The data showed 31 people were killed and 20 injured in the accidents.
The total number of deceased in the 15 accidents included 14 people killed in the December 8 crash near Coonoor.
CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 12 armed forces personnel were killed in the crash.
To a specific query on the crash of an ALH Rudra (WSI) in Ranjeet Sagar dam near Pathankot on August 3, Mr Bhatt said there was no restriction on the helicopter flying over the water body.
