Guwahati/Diphu: A Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force went missing from radar contact while flying over Assam's Karbi Anglong district on Thursday evening, officials said.

"An IAF Su-30 MKI is reported overdue. The aircraft had taken off from Jorhat air base in Assam and was last in contact at 7:42 pm," Defence PRO Lt Col Mahender Rawat said in a statement.

He said search and rescue operations have been initiated to ascertain the status of the fighter jet.

There is no immediate news of the pilot yet, the PRO said.

Meanwhile, another official said some locals from Chokihola area in Bokajan sub-division have claimed that a plane may have crashed inside a forested area.

"We are preparing a team to send and verify it. We cannot confirm anything at this moment," he added.

Local reports from Assam indicate that the fighter aircraft may have crashed in a remote, hilly region of Karbi Anglong district. The suspected location of the crash is believed to be near the Nilip area under Chokihola.

Residents from nearby villages said they heard a loud explosion-like noise in the evening. The sound reverberated through the surrounding hills and caused alarm among villagers.

Several residents said they stepped out of their homes after hearing the powerful blast. Some villagers also reported seeing smoke rising from the direction of the hills shortly after the sound was heard.

However, the location is extremely difficult to access and surrounded by dense terrain. Because of this, no one was able to reach the exact place where the aircraft may have gone down.

Officials have not yet issued a statement regarding the pilot or confirmed whether the aircraft has crashed. Defence authorities said search teams are still working to collect more details and locate the aircraft at the earliest.