Seventeen people lost their lives as an Afghan army helicopter crashed in the southern Zabul province with Qalat as its capital 340 km south of Kabul on Thursday, said General Abdul Razeq Shirzai, commander of air force unit in the southern region.

 

"An army chopper crashed between Naw Bahar and Shinkai district of Zabul province at 09:30 a.m. local time today leaving 17 people including five crew and 12 soldiers dead,"Shirzai told Xinhua.

 

Investigation has been launched into the case to determine the exact reason for the incident, he added.

(Xinhua)