- The helicopter was carrying five passengers and one pilot when it crashed near Joshimath.
- The aircraft’s wreckage was found near Chai village in Chamoli district; all six occupants are feared dead, but official casualty confirmation was awaited.
- Army, SDRF and police teams participated in the response, while the operator’s fleet was grounded as a precaution.
Dehradun: A helicopter carrying six people, including the pilot, crashed near Hathi Parvat in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday, triggering a search and rescue operation involving the Army, police and disaster response teams.
The helicopter, operated by private aviation company Trans Bharat Aviation, was travelling from Badrinath towards Dehradun when it lost contact near the Joshimath area.
According to reports, the aircraft crashed near Chai village, close to Joshimath. Wreckage was subsequently located, and all six occupants are feared dead. Authorities had not yet officially confirmed the casualties in the latest available reports.
Helicopter Lost Contact Near Joshimath
The aircraft was operating on the Badrinath-Dehradun route when communication with it was lost while flying over the Joshimath valley.
The Chamoli district administration received information about the missing helicopter and immediately initiated search operations.
Smoke was reportedly spotted near Chai village following the disappearance of the aircraft, raising concerns about a possible crash. The helicopter had five passengers and one pilot on board.
Army, SDRF and Police Join Rescue Operation
Following the incident, the district administration, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army personnel and police teams were deployed for search and rescue operations.
Rescue teams faced challenging conditions because of the difficult mountainous terrain and adverse weather.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he was closely monitoring the situation and directed officials to ensure immediate medical assistance and airlifting of seriously injured people, if required.
He also expressed concern for the safety of those on board and said a joint operation was underway.
Trans Bharat Aviation Fleet Grounded
Following the incident, authorities ordered the grounding of the entire fleet of Trans Bharat Aviation as a precautionary measure, according to the reported statement from the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority.
The decision was taken while authorities examined the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Further details about the aircraft’s condition, flight operations and the cause of the accident are awaited. No confirmed technical or weather-related cause has been established in the available reports.
Weather Conditions Pose Challenges in Uttarakhand
The incident occurred amid adverse weather conditions in the mountainous region. Reports indicated snowfall and poor visibility around the area.
Mountainous terrain, changing weather and limited visibility can create additional challenges for aviation and rescue operations.
Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances of the crash and establish the sequence of events leading to the accident.
You May Like