Bad weather is suspected to have caused a helicopter crash in Uttarakhand. A helicopter en route from Badrinath to Dehradun went missing with six people on board, including five passengers and a pilot.
According to media reports, the helicopter lost contact amid adverse weather conditions. The passengers were reportedly pilgrims.
The helicopter is suspected to have crashed near Chayi village in the Joshimath area. Officials in Chamoli said teams have rushed to the spot to conduct rescue operations, and details are being gathered on how many passengers were on board.
Officials in Chamoli district administration said the helicopter, belonging to 'Trans Bharat Aviation' , was returning to Dehradun from Badrinath when it crashed around 2.20 pm near Chai village in Chamoli district's Joshimath area.
Smoke was seen rising near Chaien village in Joshimath, following the disappearance of the helicopter, the officials added.
The district administration has deployed aerial search teams to locate the missing helicopter. While two helicopters have been deployed for search and rescue operations, continued rainfall and dense cloud cover have made it difficult to establish its location.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed receiving reports of a helicopter crash near Chayee village and said rescue operations were underway.
"We have received the unfortunate news of a helicopter crash near Chayee village, close to Joshimath. A joint rescue operation is being conducted by the district administration, disaster management department, and SDRF," Dhami said in a post on X.
"I myself am continuously monitoring the entire incident. Instructions have been given to immediately airlift the seriously injured to higher centers for better treatment," he added.
The chief minister also prayed for the safe return of the passengers.
The exact circumstances of the suspected crash remain unclear, although adverse weather conditions are being seen as a possible factor. There has been continued rain in Yamunotri, Haridwar and Dehradun, among other districts in the state.
