A helicopter crashed in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district near Gaurikund on Sunday morning. The helicopter was bringing back pilgrims from Shri Kedarnath Dham to its Guptkashi base. There were six adults and an infant on board this helicopter. Five pilgrims, the pilot and an employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee were among those killed.
The reason for the helicopter crash is said to be the sudden bad weather in the valley. Uttarakhand SDRF has confirmed the death of seven people in this crash.
District Tourism Development Officer and Nodal Heli Service Rahul Chaubey said, "Information about a helicopter missing was received this morning. As soon as the information was received, it was investigated and searched."
"According to preliminary information, a helicopter of Aryan Aviation was bringing passengers back from Shri Kedarnath Dham to its Guptkashi base, the weather suddenly turned bad in the valley. The pilot tried to take the helicopter out of the valley but during this time the helicopter crashed," Chaubey said.
Search and rescue work in progress
He told that apart from the pilot, five passengers and an infant were also on board this helicopter and the the rescue teams including NDRF, SDRF, police force are engaged in search and rescue work with the help of local people. An update will be given soon in this whole matter.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed grief over this accident. He has posted on X and said, "Very sad news has been received about the helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district." Pushkar Singh Dhami told that SDRF and local administration have been engaged in relief and rescue work. Along with this, he wrote, "I pray to Baba Kedar for the safety of all the passengers."
AAIB will probe
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will probe the helicopter crash. As a precautionary measure, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) has already reduced frequency of helicopter operations to Char Dham.
Prakash Kumar Pandey