MUZAFFARABAD (Agencies) – A mass funeral was held on Thursday for 22 Pakistan Army personnel who lost their lives in a military helicopter crash in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), as rescue teams recovered all bodies from the wreckage and authorities launched an investigation into the tragedy.
The Pakistan Army helicopter crashed on Wednesday in Muzaffarabad, reportedly due to a technical fault. Military officials confirmed that all personnel on board were killed, leaving no survivors.
Rescue workers completed recovery operations at the crash site, retrieving the remains of all 22 soldiers from the heavily damaged and burned wreckage. During the funeral ceremony, 22 coffins draped in Pakistan’s national flag were laid out as military and civilian leaders paid tribute to the deceased.
According to security officials, the victims included a colonel, two army majors and other military personnel. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Senior government and military officials attended the funeral prayers, including Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, who expressed condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and praised their service to the country.
The military stated that a formal inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the crash. Investigators are examining technical and operational aspects of the incident.
Officials said the soldiers were travelling to perform security-related duties following a call for a march on Muzaffarabad by the Joint Awami Action Committee, a recently banned alliance of various groups. However, authorities have not suggested any link between the planned protest and the helicopter crash.
The accident occurred amid heightened security measures across the region. Pakistan has deployed additional security personnel in parts of Azad Kashmir following violent clashes over the weekend involving members of an outlawed group. The unrest resulted in the deaths of four police and security officials.
Military helicopter accidents have occurred periodically in Pakistan over the years. In September last year, an army helicopter on a routine mission crashed in northern Pakistan, killing two pilots and three technicians.
