TIA NEWS /
Massive search and rescue operations are on in war footing in the Bay of Bengal, about 300 kilometers East of Chennai, to locate the missing Indian Air Force aircraft AN-32.
The plane went missing yesterday while flying from Chennai to Port Blair with 29 people on board.
PRO of the Indian Navy, Captain DK Sharma said, the Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard are engaged in intensive search operations to locate the aircraft.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is likely to visit Tambaram air base near Chennai today.
Official sources said, Mr Parrikar will get a detailed briefing on the search and rescue operations being undertaken by the Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard.
Defence Ministry spokesperson told media that INS Jalashwa is expected to reach the area today to assist in the search operations.
The AN32 are being used by the Indian Air Force to carry the personnel of the Army, Navy and Airforce and coast guard and defence civilians posted in India’s only integrated command in Andaman and Nicobar.
They also carry tonnes of materials like food items and medicines.
This is the first time ever an AN32 has disapperaed over the Bay of Bengal. Apart from the Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force, the Tamil Nadu Coastal Police have also participated in the search operations in the possible area of lose of contact by the missing aircraft.
The Defence authorities have already informed of the incident to the families of the 6 crew members and the 23 other personnel. A submarine has also rushed to the probable area.
The signals of the locator beacon of the aircraft hold the key to the search opertation.