Pawan Hans chopper crash: 'Impact of injuries shows death happened mid-air'

Search and rescue operations have been going on since Saturday afternoon near the wreckage site off Mumbai coast. Pics/Indian Coast Guard (Western Region)

More human remains (an intestine and a leg) were found on Monday along with those of the Pawan Hans helicopter that crashed into the Arabian Sea, 30 nautical miles en route to the offshore rig of ONGC Northern Field at Bombay High. The mortal remains were sent to Cooper post-mortem centre; they will soon be sent to the forensic science lab in Kalina for DNA analysis to confirm the identity of the deceased.

Initial analysis
A panel of three forensic surgeons attached to the department of forensic medicine and toxicology of HBTMC medical college (Cooper Hospital) headed by Professor Dr Rajesh Sukhadeve, Associate Professor Dr Sachin Sonawane and Assistant Professor Dr Shivkumar Kolle conducted the autopsies. Sources attached to the post-mortem centre told mid-day that the bodies were brought in a mutilated condition with some beyond recognition. A forensic expert said, "The impact of the injuries shows that death was spontaneous, and probably mid-air, as the injuries were anti-mortem and also indicate that some came in contact with the rotor blade, as the helicopter came down, leading to deep cuts." Moreover, the bodies did not show anti-mortem drowning signs, and the passengers and pilots might not have got any time to react to the happenings mid-air.

Also read: Crashed Pawan Hans chopper Voice Data Recorder found, one pilot still missing

The forensic team has concluded that death was a result of "shock and haemorrhage due to multiple laceration and fractures". A mortuary attendant at Cooper Hospital said, "The next of kin identified one body from a gold ring on his finger during the police panchnama; another was identified from an earlier injury on his body."

Search op continues
The attendant added that they have been getting remains, such as pieces of small intestine and lower limbs, over the last two days. "We have preserved the same; after the DNA report is out, these will be handed over to the concerned." Meanwhile, as the search and rescue operation continued for the third consecutive day yesterday, the coast guard, in its statement, said, "Effort to locate missing passengers onboard the ill-fated ONGC copter continued on the third day with Indian Coast Guard ships and aircraft undertaking extensive search in the area in coordination with other ONGC and Naval vessels."

Coast Guard Ship Samrat, the on-scene commander, in its latest report from the area, confirmed recovery of another body yesterday, belonging to the missing crew. The ship also intimated recovery of aircraft parts - rotor blades, main gear box, tail gear box, both engines, emergency locator transmitter, etc, by ONGC vessel Samudra Sevak.

Coast Guard Dornier aircraft, flying from Daman, continued to scan the area for any debris or body parts. On Monday, a high-level delegation from ONGC and Pawan Hans Ltd visited Headquarters, Indian Coast Guard (Western Region), at Worli to assess the situation and formulate further strategy for early recovery of debris and body, if any. "ICG has assured all feasible support to ONGC in searching for the remaining crew. The search area is being worked out between various agencies to cover maximum area in the shortest possible time," the statement read.

Investigation underway
A team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has started its probe and will be examining the wreckage to ascertain the conversation between the pilots and the control room. Interestingly, the Santacruz police have started preparing the accidental reports instead of the Yellow Gate police station. Senior inspector of Santacruz police Shantanu Pawar said, "So far, we have prepared ADRs of five remains that were fished out and, after completing basic formalities, sent them to Cooper (Hospital) for post-mortem. It was an emergency situation and we did not want people to wait unnecessarily for getting the mortal remains of their loved ones. We will be handing over all the papers to the Yellow Gate police."

"Our paperwork of registering ADRs is only to assist families in completing the legal recruitments so that they can claim the life insurance policies and get the death certificates," said senior inspector of Yellow Gate police Mahaveer Tiwatne.

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