2nd LD:Death toll of North Pakistan's helicopter crash rises to 12

At least 12 army personnel were killed when a military chopper crashed into mountains near Pakistan's northwest Mansehra district on Thursday night, officials said.

Naheebur Rehman, Deputy Police Officer (D.P.O), said that the Pakistani army's Mi-17 air ambulance helicopter was carrying doctors, paramedics, aviation staff and relief goods from garrison city of Rawalpindi to North Gilgit region when the incident happened.

He said that the accident happened apparently due to bad weather, however, investigations into the incident are being made.

An official with the Pakistani army confirmed that the helicopter was carrying 12 military men including two pilots, three doctors, a flight technician, a crew chief and nursing staff.

Eyewitnesses said that the chopper caught fire after crash and all the bodies inside were burnt beyond recognition.

The D.P.O. said that the debris of the helicopter fall at a thickly forested mountainous area which is hampering the rescue efforts.

At least seven people were killed, six others injured and 136, 000 became affected by the torrential rains that hit the Gilgit Baltistan Region this monsoon.

The army is carrying out rescue operation in the area and is providing medical facility, food supply and shelter to the flood victims.

Thursday night's sortie was also a part of the rescue and relief operation of the army.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the incident and extended his condolence to the families of the deceased army men.

This is the second major helicopter crash in the country since the beginning of this year.

Earlier in May, an Mi-17 carrying ambassadors and army men crashed in the country's north Natlar valley, killing seven people including two envoys, two spouses of diplomats, two army officials and a flight technician. Endi