India probes helicopter crash

India says it is investigating whether a military helicopter which came down near the border with Pakistan was shot down.

It is a possibility (that it was shot down) but it is premature to say that at this moment

Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis

Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis said it was "premature" to say whether there was Pakistani involvement in the incident - but said the possibility would be investigated.

The Russian-built MI-8 helicopter came down over the western state of Gujarat near the border with Pakistan, some 90 km from Nalia district.

Five of those on board survived the crash, including the co-pilot.

Seven bodies are now reported to have been extracated from the wreckage.

An airforce spokesman said the crew had reported seeing some boats - although no Indian vessels were in the area at the time.

The helicopter had apparently gone in closer to check the identity of the boats.

Three senior members of India's Border Security Force were among the 12 people on board the helicopter.

India's defence minister had said on Monday there was nothing to suggest that Pakistan had any hand in it.

Border region

The Indian Air Force helicopter took off early on Sunday afternoon from the town of Kateshwar in the western state of Gujarat.

It went missing over marshy and desert terrain in the Kutch area of Gujarat, which adjoins Pakistan.

A large-scale search was mounted by the air force, the army and the police.

Other helicopters are searching for survivors

On board were four crew and eight members of the Border Security Force, including a deputy inspector general and two commandants.

The air force says it sighted the wreckage around 24 hours after the helicopter went missing.

In August last year, shortly after the end of the Kargil conflict, India shot down a Pakistani naval surveillance aircraft in the same border area.

India and Pakistan continue to dispute which country's airspace the plane was flying in when it was shot down.