A helicopter accident occurred during a Hindu pilgrimage.
site in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand killed seven people, including a child and the pilot, according to reports.
The helicopter transporting devotees of the Char Dham pilgrimage from Kedarnath crashed close to Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district during the early hours of Sunday.
Indian Express
reported, quoting officials.
According to the newspaper, citing Nilesh Bharne, IG of Law and Order, both a pilot and a child died in this incident. “At around 5:20 am on Sunday, the helicopter vanished shortly after picking up passengers at Kedarnath with plans to go to Guptkashi,” stated Mr. Bharne. The wreckage was later found in Gaurikund, resulting in seven fatalities altogether. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the accident.” This chopper departed from Dehradun within Uttarakhand state but lost communication with air traffic controllers when flying over the hilly terrain surrounding Gaurikund, which lies not far from an important Himalayan pilgrimage site.
The helicopter was operated by the airline charter firm Aryan Aviation. It was subsequently discovered that the aircraft had crashed somewhere between Trijuginarayan and Gaurikund, as per Reuters’ report. Local news sources suggest that at minimum five individuals may have lost their lives; however, authorities have yet to verify this casualty count.
Initial reports indicate that a technical glitch and adverse weather might be responsible for the accident, as per Indian news sources; however, inquiries are ongoing.
The Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, expressed his hope for the safe recovery of every passenger involved.
“The deeply troubling report of a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district has come in. The SDRF, local authorities, and other rescue teams are involved in providing aid and conducting search-and-rescue efforts,” he shared on X.
.
Helicopter services to Kedarnath are frequently used by pilgrims during the annual Char Dham Yatra season and are often impacted by fast-changing weather in the region.
This marks the
fifth helicopter-related incident
in the region since the Kedarnath pilgrimage season began in early May. Earlier this month, six people had a narrow escape when a helicopter for forced to make an emergency landing mid-way in Rudraprayag.
The Indian aviation regulatory authority, DGCA, halted the services of two operators due to violations and imposed stricter regulations on helicopter activities.
Questions have often been raised about aviation safety
and oversight in the hilly Himalayan region, especially during peak travel months.
The Kedarnath route has seen fatal accidents in the past. In October 2022, seven people died when a helicopter ferrying pilgrims crashed near the same area.
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