Pilot injured in crash made all efforts to avert casualties: IG

Hanumangarh: A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed on a house in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan on Monday, leaving three women dead and as many others injured on the ground, officials said.

IG, Bikaner range, Om Prakash said the pilot made all efforts to avert human casualties and crash-landed the plane on the outskirts of a village.

SP, Hanumangarh, Sudheer Chaudhary said the plane crashed on the house of one Ratti Ram, killing his wife Basho Kaur and two other women identified as Leela Devi and Banto Kaur.

According to initial reports, the house of Ratti Ram was completely damaged besides some nearby houses.
“Local people immediately started efforts to douse flames with the help of water and sand. Fire brigade and police reached the spot and the women were taken to a hospital,” the local resident told reporters in Hanumangarh.

The IAF said it “regrets the loss of lives and offers its deepest condolences” to the bereaved families.