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An aircraft crashed near Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Friday, killing all six people onboard. (Img: X)
Chamoli: A helicopter carrying five pilgrims and a pilot crashed near Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Friday, shortly after taking off from Badrinath. The wreckage of the aircraft has since been located, with all six occupants feared dead, according to reports citing officials.
Operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, the chopper was travelling from Badrinath towards Dehradun when it reportedly lost contact with authorities in the vicinity of Hathi Parvat, near Joshimath.
According to preliminary information, the aircraft took off from Badrinath at around 2.15 pm. Its location subsequently went off the radar, triggering an emergency response by the district administration and disaster management authorities.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed the crash and said that a joint search and rescue operation had been initiated by the district administration, disaster management teams and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
Dhami said that instructions had been issued to ensure that those injured, if any, received immediate medical attention and were shifted to advanced medical facilities.
The aircraft reportedly crashed in the vicinity of Chai village, near Hathi Parvat. Two helicopters were deployed as part of the aerial search, while teams from the district administration, SDRF and other agencies were mobilised for the operation. The wreckage was subsequently traced, although the occupants were feared dead.
The accident took place amid unfavourable weather conditions across Uttarakhand. Several parts of the hill state have been experiencing rainfall and snowfall, with Kedarnath witnessing heavy snowfall following continuous precipitation since October 29.
The adverse weather has added to the challenges confronting rescue personnel in the mountainous terrain. Dr CS Tomar, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Dehradun, indicated that rainfall activity was likely to continue over the coming days, particularly in the hill districts.
Following the incident, authorities ordered the grounding of all helicopter fleets operated by Trans Bharat Aviation as a precautionary measure. Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority official Prateek Jain said the helicopter had departed Badrinath for Sahastradhara helipad at 1.14 pm, according to the statement reported by media.Its location could not be traced as it passed through the Joshimath valley.
The incident has once again brought attention to the risks associated with helicopter operations in Uttarakhand's mountainous regions, particularly during periods of unpredictable weather. Further details regarding the identities of the passengers and the circumstances leading to the crash are awaited. The cause of the accident has not yet been officially established.
