NDRF Joins Search for Missing Aircraft in Jharkhand’s Chandil Dam

New Delhi,India: The search for a missing two-seater aircraft has intensified in Jharkhand’s Seraikela-Kharswan district, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) joining the operation on August 21, 2024. The aircraft, a Cessna 152 belonging to Alchemist Aviation, vanished after taking off from Jamshedpur’s Sonari aerodrome on August 20, 2024, at around 11 a.m., carrying a pilot and a trainee.

Local authorities, including police and forest department teams, have been searching the area since the aircraft’s last known location was detected near Nimdih, under Chandil sub-division. A massive search is currently underway in the Chandil dam, where residents reported spotting debris in the reservoir.

Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar Lunayat confirmed that the search continued late into the night of August 20, with efforts resuming early the next day. The NDRF’s involvement is expected to boost the operation as they bring specialized expertise and equipment to the scene. 

The East Singhbhum district administration and authorities in neighboring West Bengal’s Purulia district are also coordinating in the search efforts, hoping to locate the missing aircraft and those on board.