Pakistan: Helicopter on monsoon rescue mission crashes; 5 killed
"An MI-17 helicopter of the provincial government, carrying relief goods for rain-affected areas of Bajaur, crashed in the Pandiyali area of Mohmand district due to bad weather," Ali Amin Gandapur said in a statement. "Five crew members, including two pilots, were killed."
A cloudburst washed away several houses in northwestern Bajaur district, killing 16 people and stranding more than 20 others, the provincial disaster agency told AFP earlier.
The meteorological department has also issued a heavy rain alert for the northwest, urging people to avoid "unnecessary exposure to vulnerable areas".
The annual monsoon season brings South Asia 70 to 80 per cent of its rainfall, which is vital for agriculture and food security, but also brings destruction.
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