A tragic helicopter crash in India’s Uttarakhand state has claimed the lives of seven people, including a 23-month-old toddler and the pilot, Himalayas, officials said.
The helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation, was ferrying Hindu pilgrims from Kedarnath temple to Guptkashi when it crashed in the Gaurikund area on Sunday morning, response official Nandan Singh Rajwar told AFP.
All seven people on board died in the accident, which is believed to have been caused by bad weather.
The helicopter crashed in the Gaurikund area, near Kedarnath temple, in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district.
The State’s Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, said rescue teams had been dispatched to the scene after the “very sad news”.
Rescue teams, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), were dispatched to the scene.
However, the remote location and challenging terrain made it difficult for the teams to access the site.
Preliminary reports suggested that bad weather, including dense clouds and heavy rain, may have contributed to the accident.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will lead the inquiry into the crash.
This incident raised concerns about the safety standards of private helicopter operators servicing the Char Dham route, particularly given the region’s unique challenges, such as sudden weather changes and narrow valleys .
