Bodies of Khandu, 4 others airlifted to Tawang

The army, with the help of locals, on Thursday brought the bodies of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and four others from Keyla, where the helicopter with five on board crashed on Saturday last.

All the five bodies have been brought to Luguthang and air-lifted to Tawang by an army helicopter, according to sources in the chief minister's office.

Keyla is located at an altitude of 4,500 meters, about six-hour trek on foot from Luguthang Gompa in Tawang district.

The autopsy of the bodies would be conducted at Tawang army post at 12.30 pm, the sources said, adding Khandu's body would be brought to Itanagar later on Thursday evening.

It would be kept at his official bungalow for the public to pay their last respects. Khandu's last rites would be performed at his native village in Tawang, the sources added.

The B3 single-engine and four-seater copter went missing with Khandu, his security officer Yeshi Chodak, Yeshi Lhamu, sister of Tawang MLA Tsewang Dhondup and two pilots after taking off from Tawang helipad and crashed in bad weather in the mountains.

After a five day search, their bodies and the wreckage were located at Kyela on Wednesday.