The helicopter lost contact on Friday afternoon while navigating through severe weather, which coincided with an official orange alert warning of thunderstorms, hail, and high winds. State Disaster Response Force personnel, district administrators, and disaster management teams are conducting a coordinated search near Joshimath. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered immediate airlifts for any severely injured passengers as soon as they are reached. The status of the six individuals on board remains unconfirmed while investigators work to determine what caused the incident.
Key points
Aviation services ferrying visitors across Himalayan pilgrimage routes remain under inten…: Aviation services ferrying visitors across Himalayan pilgrimage routes remain under intense scrutiny due to recurring fatal accidents.
Past fatal crashes near Kedarnath in October 2022 and June 2025 previously forced regulat…: Past fatal crashes near Kedarnath in October 2022 and June 2025 previously forced regulators to enforce stricter operating restrictions.
Harsh weather and treacherous mountainous geography continue to pose severe operational h…: Harsh weather and treacherous mountainous geography continue to pose severe operational hazards for helicopter transit throughout the Char Dham circuit.
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- Published
A search for survivors is under way after a helicopter carrying six people, including five pilgrims, has crashed in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, officials say.
Uttarakhand's Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the helicopter had crashed near a village close to Joshimath in Chamoli district. Rescue teams have been dispatched to the mountainous area, but the condition of those on board remains unclear.
The aircraft reportedly took off from the Hindu pilgrimage site of Badrinath on Friday afternoon before losing contact.
The cause of the crash is also not yet known. The incident happened amid reports of heavy rain and poor visibility in the region.
Uttarakhand, a Himalayan state which borders China and Nepal, is home to some of Hinduism's holiest shrines and attracts millions of pilgrims every year.
Badrinath is one of four sacred sites on the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, alongside Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Many devotees travel through steep Himalayan valleys to reach the temples, which are open for only part of the year because of harsh winter conditions.
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