Lightning may have hit the ill-fated chopper...

HYDERABAD, Sept 4 :

  The  exact reasons  for the  Mishap of  chopper  flying Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy are not established  but the  experts feel that a lightning strike may have led to the immobilisation of the flight.

According to the reliable sources here on Friday, the lightning might not have brought the ill-fated chopper down but certainly caused enough damage to the altimeter. With altimeter not functioning  properly, the  pilot was clueless  and  was led to deviate from the flight path. The inclement weather added to the woes of  the pilot for he was not able to have a good view of the land below  due to poor light  and overcast conditions.

All these problems complicated the  situation leading the copter to  hit the cliff of the hill below 14 metres from the cliff. As a result the  chopper  exploded and broke into pieces.

The  state  Government  officials had a clue about the disaster but they  did not want t o believe  such a  worst type of Mishap would take place. In a positive frame of mind they aired the announcements that the chopper would have landed  safely in some  remote  part of the Nallmala forests.

Based on an SMS message sent to the chief security officer's cellphone, the search helicopter could identify the site where the chopper crashed.

The hilly terrain caused many hardships to the  army commandos who had to be air dropped by a helicopter to collect the bodies. After intense struggle the commandos  retrieved the five  bodies  which  were beyond recognition.