Ranchi, Oct 19 (IANS): A Border Security Force (BSF) helicopter crashed in a forested area near this Jharkhand capital Wednesday, killing at least two people, police said.

The helicopter crashed near Kolad village on the Ranchi-Khuti border, about 40 km from here.

"Two burnt bodies have been found near the crash site. The helicopter was completely burnt and parts were strewn in an area of more than 200 metres," S.N. Pradhan, inspector general of police (operations), told IANS.

There were three men on board the chopper -- the two pilots Captain S.P. Singh and Captain A. Thomas and crew member Swain. Though all three are believed to have been killed, only two bodies have been found.

Though the helicopter crashed in a Maoist-affected area, Pradhan said there was no possibility of the guerrillas being involved in the incident. "The chopper was flying around 2,000 feet above the ground. The crash site indicates that the chopper crashed at high speed. It could have developed a technical snag."

According to a government official, a 10-member team of the union rural development ministry was scheduled to visit the Saranda jungle, a Maoist stronghold, in West Singhbhum district. The helicopter took off at 8.40 a.m. for a recce of the area and the union team was supposed to follow.