30 August 2012 Last updated at 04:37 ET

Nine killed in India helicopter collision

Indian Air Force personnel salvage the remains after two air force helicopters collide and crash in Gujarat on 30 August 2012 Officials said the helicopters were on a training sortie

Two Indian air force helicopters have collided in mid-air in India's western state of Gujarat, killing nine defence personnel, air force officials say.

The MI-17 helicopters crashed into each other just after take off from an air base near the village of Sarmat in Jamnagar district.

Officials said the helicopters were on a training sortie.

Air force, police and fire brigade teams have reached the site of the crash and are assessing the situation.

An air force spokesman in the capital, Delhi, said a court of inquiry had been ordered to determine the reasons behind the crash, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

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