Death toll rises to 28 from Tajikistan military helicopter crash

The death toll from the military chopper crash in Tajikistan on Wednesday has risen to 28, Russian news agencies reported.

Earlier, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reported that at least 27 people were killed in the crash, including some 20 fighters from special units "Alpha" of the State Committee of National Security, in addition to seven National Guard servicemen.

Earlier reports reaching here said four people died and another three were wounded during the crash of the Mi-8 helicopter that belonged to the Tajik National Guard.

The chopper crashed in the Rasht region, 180 km east of the capital Dushanbe, on Wednesday morning.

Preliminary reports from the Tajik Khovar news agency said technical failures may have caused the accident.

A special commission has been set up to probe into the reasons behind the crash.

Those on board the helicopter were reportedly searching for insurgents who killed 28 Tajik National Guard servicemen in a military convoy attack in the region on Sept. 19.