Mystery shrouds the missing of Arunachal Chief Minister – Dorjee Khandu.

Mystery shrouds the missing of Arunachal Chief Minister – Dorjee Khandu.  He had left Tawang by a helicopter in the morning to reach Itanagar which is 401 km away.  After concerns of the missing copter, there were reports that it had safely landed at Bhutan. 

Arunachal Pradesh attained statehood on 20^th Feb 1987.  It is a lovely place with snow-capped mountains in the north to the plains of Brahmaputra valley in the south. Arunachal is the largest state area-wise in the north-east region, even larger than Assam which is the most populous.  It is situated between latitude 26 30' N  and 29 30 ' N and longitude 91 30' E and 9730' E.  Itanagar is the capital of Arunachal Pradesh and located at an altitude of 530 meters above MSL. It is named after Itafort meaning fort of bricks built in 14th century A.D.

Tawang is the HQ of West Kameng district.  It is a place of mystics and enchanting beauties, has the highest Peak - Gorithan (6858 Mts Mls.) and is the home of Monpa tribe.  Tawang is believed to have derived its name from the grandiose Tawang Monastery perched on the edge of the ridge running along the western part of Tawang township. Ta means Horse and Wang means chosen. As the legend goes the site of the present monastery is believed to have chosen by a Horse owned by Merag Lama Lodre Gyamtso.

Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu had left from here in the morning – the air contact stopped and searches were initiated – then there were reports of the helicopter carrying him landing in Bhutan.    The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small landlocked country in the Himalayas bordered by India, China and Nepal.  Its capital Thimpu is 245 kms away from Itanagar and would take approx 40 minutes by air from Itanagar to Thimphu.

Confusion prevailed as Defence spokesperson stated that CM had landed in a palce called Daporijo in Upper Subansiri dist; CM’s office had stated that it had landed in Bhutan.   Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of a helicopter carrying Arunachal Pradesh, with official claims that it had been traced to Bhutan denied and no news about the chopper till late evening Saturday. Bhutan has denied any Indian helicopter had landed in its territory.  Unfortunately, no direct contact appears to have been established, nor is there any proof of such landing.   The Pawan Hans AS350 B-3 helicopter had taken off from Tawang at 9.50 a.m. Saturday and was scheduled  to land in Itanagar at 11.30 a.m.  The helicopter is reported to have  had two pilots and three passengers on board, including the chief minister and his personal security officer. The third passenger, is stated to be a woman named Lamu.  There are lurking fears as the  helicopter is a single-engine chopper.  If and when the engine fails there are slim chances of it making a safe landing.

With concerns – S. Sampathkumar.