Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday talked to Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne to condole the death of Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel who died in Tuesday's helicopter crash in Uttarakhand.
According to an official release, the prime minister said he had "full confidence in the force and its capability to overcome this tragedy and continue the arduous task in Uttarakhand".
"Your men have done heroic work in treacherous circumstances and saved thousands of lives," the prime minister told Browne.
He said the country was grateful to the armed forces for their selfless and determined efforts in helping the people in the aftermath of the disaster.
An IAF helicopter on a rescue mission in flood and landslide-hit Uttarakhand crashed Tuesday, killing 20 personnel from the IAF, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the National Disaster Response Force, besides pilgrims.
