ISLAMABAD - Three people were feared dead as a Rangers helicopter crashed into the Indus River in central Pakistan Wednesday morning, reported local Urdu TV channel ARY.

According to the report, two pilots survived by swimming to the shore of the river while three others on board including the top official of Punjab Rangers Director General Muhammad Nawaz were feared dead.

The accident took place at about 10:30 am local time shortly after the helicopter took off from Deraghazi Kan, a city nearby the Indus River in central Pakistan. The chopper was heading towards Peshawar, said the report

Before the helicopter crashed into the Indus River, the pilot informed the control tower on the ground about the poor visibility.