Searches for Mi-6 helicopter brought no results

Searches for Mi-6 helicopter lost in Taimyr peninsula have brought no results yet. There is no information about the fate of its crew and passengers. However, the rescuers express suppositions, that the helicopter could make crash landing because of bad weather circumstances. According to them, the people who were onboard are provided with food and warm cloths at least for 10 days.

Governor of Taimyr Autonomous Region, Alexandr Khloponin has stopped his participation in the pre-election campaign.

Alexandr Khloponin has stopped his holidays and come to the city of Norilsk to control the rescue works. “I am breaking off my holidays and stopping my pre-election campaign for governor of Krasnoyarsk Region and taking the search works under my personal control,” – Khloponin said. He reported this during the meeting between the leadership of Norilsky Nikel company, Taimyr Autonomous Region, and General Council of United Russia party, which took place yesterday.

The Taimyr governor noticed that the search is being carried out in complicated conditions. He also thanked the regional search headquarter which had immediately reacted to the accident and continued the search even in bad weather conditions. According to the governor, the search work became too complicate, because the specialized military units situated in Norilsk industrial region, who are ready to render assistance in situations like that, are being disbanded now. Therefore, there the activities of rescue services are not co-ordinated, and they need more time to carry out the search work.

July 13, Alexandr Khloponin left for Dikson Island. He intends to stay in the area of the search as long as necessary. The leadership of United Russia party supported the governor activities, his spokesperson reported.

Sergei Alexandrov PRAVDA.Ru

Translated by Vera Solovieva

Read the original in Russian: http://www.pravda.ru/main/2002/07/12/44097.html