A helicopter crash at 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 carrying pilgrims from Kedarnath crashed near Rudraprayag’s Gaurikund early Sunday, the Indian Express reported, quoting officials. Officials said the dead included the pilot and pilgrims from the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh and western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. The bodies were badly burned in a fire that followed the crash, they said.
A child were among those killed. Nilesh Bharne, IG Law and Order, said: “Around 5.20am on Sunday, the helicopter went missing after taking passengers from Kedarnath, en route to Guptkashi. It crashed in Gaurikund, leading to seven deaths. We are ascertaining the reason for the crash.” The aircraft had taken off from Dehradun in Uttarakhand state and lost contact with air traffic control near Gaurikund, a mountainous area close to the Himalayan temple town.
The crash comes three days after an Air India flight fell from the sky and killed at least 270 people in Gujarat state. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad minutes after takeoff Thursday, killing 241 people on board and at least 29 on the ground. One passenger survived.
The helicopter was run by airplane charter company Aryan Aviation. The helicopter was later found crashed between Trijuginarayan and Gaurikund.
Early reports suggest a technical malfunction and poor weather conditions may have caused the crash, according to Indian media outlets, though investigations are still underway.
Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he was praying for the safe recovery of all passengers.
“The extremely distressing news of a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district has been received. SDRF, local administration and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations,” he posted on X.
Nandan Singh Rajwar, a local disaster management official, said authorities have launched a rescue and search operation following the helicopter crash and are expected to review operational protocols for flights in the region.
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.
Kedarnath is home to one of the four most sacred Hindu temple shrines and receives tens of thousands of pilgrims each year during the summer season, many of whom use helicopter services due to the difficult mountainous terrain.
India’s aviation governing body, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), suspended two operators for violations and tightened rules around helicopter operations.
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.
