Key Points:
- A helicopter carrying seven people, including six pilgrims and the pilot, crashed near Gangnani on the Gangotri Highway in Uttarkashi during the Char Dham Yatra.
- Six people, including the pilot and five passengers, lost their lives; one passenger from Andhra Pradesh is critically injured and receiving treatment.
- The helicopter, operated by AeroTrans Services Pvt. Ltd. (VT-OXF), was en route from Sahastradhara helipad, Dehradun, to Kharsali, near Gangotri Dham.
- SDRF, local police, and emergency teams launched a challenging rescue operation in a 200-250 meter deep gorge.
- Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep grief, ordered a thorough investigation, and directed authorities to provide all possible help to the victims’ families and the injured.
Uttarkashi: A devastating helicopter crash has cast a shadow over the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand. On Thursday morning, a helicopter ferrying pilgrims to the revered Gangotri Dham crashed into a deep gorge near Gangnani, Uttarkashi, killing six people and leaving one critically injured.
Details of the Incident
The helicopter, a Heli Aerotrans Services Pvt. Ltd. chopper (registration VT-OXF), took off from Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun around 8:50 am, destined for Kharsali helipad near Gangotri Dham. There were seven people on board: six pilgrims-four from Mumbai, two from Andhra Pradesh-and the pilot, Captain Robin Singh from Gujarat. The crash occurred near the Gangotri National Highway, in a densely forested area with a gorge 200-250 meters deep.
Rescue and Relief Efforts
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and emergency medical teams rushed to the site immediately after receiving the alert at 8:50 am. Rescue teams established a base at the edge of the gorge and began a challenging descent to reach the wreckage and recover the victims. Six bodies, including that of the pilot, were recovered, while a 51-year-old male passenger from Andhra Pradesh was rescued alive and is undergoing treatment.
Victims Identified
The deceased have been identified as:
- Kala Soni (61), Vijaya Reddy (57), Ruchi Aggarwal (56), all from Mumbai
- Radha Aggarwal (79), from Uttar Pradesh
- Vedavati Kumari (48), from Andhra Pradesh
- Captain Robin Singh, the pilot from Gujarat
Official Response and Investigation
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, offering condolences to the bereaved families and directing officials to provide every possible assistance to the injured. He has also ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash and is personally monitoring the situation.
Weather and Safety Context
The crash occurred on a day when the Meteorological Department had issued weather warnings for Uttarkashi and surrounding districts, forecasting rain, lightning, and strong winds. Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the accident, and an official inquiry is underway.
