'Operation Talash' for missing IAF AN32 aircraft continues for fourth day

The search operation for the missing AN32 aircraft of Indian Air Force, code named "Operation Talash," continues for the fourth day today in the Bay of Bengal. An international safety network has been activated to alert the merchant ships passing by the zone of search operation to look out for any survivors or the debris.

The Andaman and Nicobar Command of the defence forces are keeping a watch for it even beyond the search zone. As part of the procedure, a formal complaint about the missing aircraft has been registered with the Selaiyur police station in Chennai by the Air Force authorities. India's largest ever search operation over the sea to trace the missing twin-engined AN32 aircraft is getting imageries of the search area from the ISRO through its radar imaging satellite RISAT.

Navy chief Sunil Lanba spoke about the search operation on missing IAF AN-32. He said, "There is a coordinated search going on between Indian navy, IAF and coast guard. Search areas have been designated. Over 250 hours of aircraft sorties have been flown. It's an ongoing search, we kept a close liaison with family members of those who were onboard. There is a total of 17 ships, 13 from navy and four from the Coast Guard."

There are a total of 17 ships, 13 from navy and 4 from the Coast guard: Navy chief Sunil Lanba on missing IAF AN-32 pic.twitter.com/051LkRhxD0

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 25, 2016

The Indian Mission Control Centre of the space agency responsible for Satellite Aided Search and Rescue in the region is supplementing the Operation Talash by offering its services. Seventeen naval and coast guard ships are mounting day and night watch and various military aircraft have made 28 sorties till last evening over the search zone.

However, no clues on the whereabouts of the aircraft are yet known and the sharp look out continues unabated.