Indian Air Force and state police officials, however, explained how retrieval is easier said than done in the hostile terrain where the plane crashed.
The crash site is a thickly forested mountain slope at an approximate altitude of 12,000 feet.
“The first team that was dropped on June 12 tried dragging the bodies. But the body bags were coming apart. Also it is very dangerous for the personnel to drag the bodies on the treacherous mountain slopes,” an IAF spokesperson said.
[caption id="attachment_308909" align="aligncenter" width="770"]
9 days after An-32 wreckage was spotted, bodies yet to be retrieved[/caption]
On Sunday, a 20 member team, comprising of eight elite commandoes from the IAF and the Indian Army and 11 porters, and a local hunter was dispatched to help the team camping at the spot. The team is expected to get to the spot on Wednesday after a three-day trek.
“The plan was initiated when the weather and clouds did not allow any helicopter flight,” he said.
This spokesperson explained winching is the only option to get the bodies back to the base but even that cannot be carried out over the crash site.
“The closest spot to the crash site where the chopper can hover is also about three km away where the bodies have to be brought there before they can be winched up,” the spokesperson explained.
9 days after An-32 wreckage was spotted, bodies yet to be retrieved[/caption]
On Sunday, a 20 member team, comprising of eight elite commandoes from the IAF and the Indian Army and 11 porters, and a local hunter was dispatched to help the team camping at the spot. The team is expected to get to the spot on Wednesday after a three-day trek.
“The plan was initiated when the weather and clouds did not allow any helicopter flight,” he said.
This spokesperson explained winching is the only option to get the bodies back to the base but even that cannot be carried out over the crash site.
“The closest spot to the crash site where the chopper can hover is also about three km away where the bodies have to be brought there before they can be winched up,” the spokesperson explained.
