The search for a missing two-seater aircraft in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharswan district intensified on Wednesday as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) joined the ongoing efforts.
The aircraft, a Cessna 152, took off from Sonari aerodrome in Jamshedpur on Tuesday morning, carrying a pilot and a trainee, before losing contact with Air Traffic Control.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Chandil) Sunil Kumar Rajwar confirmed that search operations continued until midnight on Tuesday.
Despite extensive efforts, the aircraft’s location remained unknown, prompting the NDRF team from Ranchi to assist in the search.
The search is focused on the Chandil dam area after local residents reported seeing debris in the reservoir.
Superintendent of Police (Seraikela-Kharswan) Mukesh Kumar Lunayat stated that a massive operation is underway in the vicinity.
Adding urgency to the search, Avinash Kumar, Public Relations Officer of Seraikela-Kharswan, revealed that search teams discovered a pair of shoes and an oil slick in the dam, believed to be linked to the missing aircraft.
The search continues for the pilot, Captain J.S. Anand (40), and the trainee, S. Dutta (22).
Earlier, East Singhbhum district Deputy Commissioner Ananya Mittal disclosed that the aircraft's last known location was near Nimdih in the Chandil sub-division, as detected by Air Traffic Control at Sonari Aerodrome.
The administrations of East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharswan districts, along with police and the Forest Department, are conducting joint search operations.
In addition to the Nimdih area, search efforts have been expanded to the adjoining Purulia district of West Bengal.
The aircraft, owned by Alchemist Aviation, was on a routine training flight when it went missing, leaving authorities in a race against time to locate the plane and ensure the safety of those on board.
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