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.
The aircraft was a Bell 407 helicopter bearing registration number VT-HCX. It was scheduled to reach the Sahastradhara heliport in Dehradun. However, communication with the aircraft was lost as it crossed the Joshimath valley, while its tracking system simultaneously stopped transmitting location information.
Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) Chief Executive Officer Prateek Jain said that authorities were unable to establish the helicopter's position after it entered the Joshimath valley. The absence of tracking signals significantly complicated efforts to identify its precise location.
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.
Subsequent reports quoting Chamoli Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh Panwar confirmed that all six people aboard the helicopter had died. Their bodies were recovered from the crash site. The aircraft had reportedly struck a hillside near Chai village, bringing the search operation to a tragic conclusion.
The identities of all six occupants have emerged following the incident. The helicopter was carrying Captain Himanshu Sabharwal, the pilot, along with five male passengers. According to the available passenger details, the five passengers were from Bengaluru, Karnataka.
The passengers have been identified as Arun Salunke, H.S. Nagaraja, Prathapa Bachihally Ningarajan, Sudheer K and Shankargowda V.B. Captain Himanshu Sabharwal was reportedly from Delhi.
Earlier, UCADA officials had indicated that the identities and other particulars of the passengers were being verified. Subsequent reports provided their names, bringing greater clarity to the composition of the group travelling aboard the aircraft.
The first information regarding the possible accident reached the Joshimath police post at approximately 2.21 pm through the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. Following the alert, authorities began coordinating a search operation across the suspected crash zone.
Teams from the Indian Army, Chamoli district administration, SDRF, police and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were deployed. Separate search teams approached the suspected location from Pandukeshwar and Joshimath to cover the difficult mountainous terrain.
According to information shared by local police officials, the helicopter had reportedly been sighted heading into the valley near an Army post above Chai village. The suspected location was also reported to be close to the JP Power House.
A drone was deployed from Gopeshwar to support the search operation, while aerial surveillance was undertaken to identify the aircraft's last known position. Medical personnel were also sent towards the site in anticipation of possible casualties.
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.
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. According to meteorological information, an orange alert had been issued for Chamoli district, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, possible hailstorms and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kilometres per hour. Light rainfall and snowfall were also anticipated in the Badrinath-Joshimath region.
Weather conditions were therefore a significant concern during the rescue operation. Poor visibility, low clouds and persistent precipitation made aerial surveillance more difficult, particularly across the narrow valleys and steep slopes surrounding Joshimath.
The meteorological department had also reported substantial rainfall at several locations across Uttarakhand on October 29, particularly in Uttarkashi, Tehri and Haridwar. Light to very light rainfall was expected to continue at isolated places in the hill districts on October 31 and November 1 and 2.
Although adverse weather has emerged as a possible factor, officials have not yet established whether it directly contributed to the accident. UCADA chief executive Prateek Jain indicated that the flight had been permitted to depart after weather conditions were considered suitable at the time of take-off.
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. 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.
The latest accident has renewed concerns about aviation safety on Uttarakhand's pilgrimage routes. Helicopter services play an important role in transporting pilgrims across the difficult Himalayan landscape, where road connectivity and geographical conditions can make travel challenging.
The incident has also drawn attention to a series of helicopter-related emergencies and fatal accidents reported along the Char Dham pilgrimage routes in recent years. Reports indicate that multiple aviation incidents occurred during the 2025 pilgrimage season, including fatal crashes and emergency landings.
The Bell 407 helicopter involved in the latest accident has also brought renewed scrutiny to the safety of aircraft operating in these demanding geographical conditions.
Investigators will need to examine several aspects, including the aircraft's technical condition, flight records, communication systems, weather conditions and the circumstances surrounding its final moments. The precise sequence of events leading to the crash remains to be established.
Further details regarding the recovery operation and the official investigation are awaited. While all six occupants have reportedly been confirmed dead, the cause of the accident has not yet been officially established.
