A helicopter carrying senior military officials went missing in Balochistan on Monday night, Dawn news agency reported Tuesday.

According to an official statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), “A Pakistan army aviation helicopter which was on flood relief operations in Lasbela, Balochistan lost contact with Air Traffic Control (ATC).

Six individuals were on board including the Commander XII Corps Lt Gen Sarfraz Ali, who was supervising the flood relief operations in Balochistan. Some reports also suggested that Pakistan Coast Guard Director General Brigadier Amjad Hanif Satti, was also on board the missing chopper, Dawn added.

According to the military’s media wing, a search operation was under way at the time of going to press, and more details would be released as information became available.

Talking about the search operation, Deputy Inspector General of Police Khuzdar Range Pervez Umrani told Dawn that police and Frontier Corps personnel were conducting a joint search operation for the last five hours.

Police sources told Dawn that area where the chopper went missing was mountainous terrain, without even jeep paths, making it extremely difficult for search and rescue parties.

“Either you go on foot or motorcycles or conduct aerial surveillance,” a senior official said.

Other difficulties include lack of cell phones coverage and no electricity. Police are said to have engaged the services of local volunteers to assist with the search operation.

Military personnel and equipment, including helicopters, have been engaged in relief operations in the flood-hit districts of Balochistan for weeks now.

On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was also in Balochistan alongside National Disaster Management Authority head Lt Gen Akhtar Nawaz.