Helicopter Returning from Kedarnath Crashes in Uttarakhand, Six People Onboard Including Pilot

Dehradun/Rudraprayag (Utrakhand) : A helicopter en route from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi in Uttarakhand crashed near Gaurikund around 5:20 AM this morning. According to reports, six people were onboard, including the pilot, five adult pilgrims, and one child. The passengers are said to be from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) confirmed that upon receiving information about the crash, NDRF and SDRF teams were immediately dispatched to the site for relief and rescue operations.

IG Garhwal Range Rajeev Swaroop stated that the helicopter had taken off from Kedarnath after the pilgrims completed their darshan and was headed toward Guptkashi when it crashed in a remote and rugged area near Gaurikund. He further added that police and rescue teams have already reached the location.

ADG Law and Order, Dr. V. Murugesan, also confirmed that the missing helicopter has crashed, with six individuals onboard. Authorities are continuously collecting information from the site.

Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami tweeted:

“Received the very sad news of a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district. SDRF, local administration, and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. I pray to Baba Kedar for the safety of all the passengers.”

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, and officials are closely monitoring the situation. Further updates are awaited as more information becomes available from the crash site.