Third day passes with no trace of Khandu's chopper

Defence sources said that two Mi-17 helicopters carried out search for three hours from Tawang but had to suspend operations. Six helicopters -- two Mi17s, two Cheetah helicopters and two Chetak helicopters from Tawang, Tezpur and Guwahati --- will be pressed into action on Tuesday morning.

Sources said that infra-red images taken by two of Sukhoi 30 aircraft on Sunday detected a wreck resembling that of an aircraft inside Bhutan. Aerial and land searches are now concentrated in the region in and around Bhutan. Satellite images recommended at least three places around Sela Pass to carry out searches. 

Meanwhile, the crisis management team of Arunachal Pradesh has chalked out a fresh strategy for intense ground search operations in three particular areas -- east of Sela Pass, Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary and areas around Dirang with police, Sashastra Seema Bal personnel and volunteers from nearby villages.

A crisis management team led by Congress MP Takam Sanjoy will set up base at Bomdila to look into the various requirements for search operations that would be conducted with advice from experts. The team held a meeting on Monday morning at Itanagar in the presence of Union ministers Mukul Wasnik and V Narayansami.

While, the state administration is leaving no stone unturned to find the missing chopper, monks from Arunachal are holding candle-lit vigils and praying for the CM's safe return.