August 19, 2014: The ALH Dhruv platform, grounded across the four armed services since July 25 when an IAF Dhruv crashed killing seven personnel on board, is likely to be cleared for flight soon. Individual inspections of each platform has taken place over the last three weeks, with concerns raised over certain safety-critical components, including the tail rotor, spider assembly, transmission system etc. The Dhruv that crashed in Sitapur, U.P., last month had returned just 72 hours prior to the crash from a maintenance routine, and was fully passed for flight. That the accident took place in clear weather has also alarmed the IAF, which operates 40 Dhruvs, including a unit at Leh that supplies troops in Thoise and Siachen. HAL sources said investigations were still underway and that it would be premature to conjecture on whether there were any design or construction issues, though IAF sources suggest there could be quality scare. On all counts, otherwise, the ALH platform has proven to be robust and reliable, even at the highest altitudes of helicopter operation in the country. A comprehensive safety report on the Dhruv will be submitted by the three services to the MoD by November this year.