Tragic Helicopter Crash in Chamoli Claims Six Lives

Chamoli, October 30 (Daily Kiran) : A helicopter crash in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, has resulted in the tragic deaths of all six individuals on board, including the pilot. The helicopter was en route from Badrinath Dham to Sahastradhara in Dehradun when the accident occurred on Friday.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed profound sorrow over the incident and has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the crash. He offered prayers for the souls of the deceased and extended his heartfelt condolences to the grieving families. The chief minister emphasized the need for authorities to thoroughly examine all aspects of the accident and ascertain its causes. He also instructed the district administration to provide all possible assistance to the affected families and ensure prompt relief measures.

According to reports, the helicopter, operated by Trans Bharat Aviation Private Limited, took off around 1:12 PM. Shortly after takeoff, it crashed in the upper hilly area of Chai village in the Joshimath tehsil.

Upon receiving news of the crash, teams from the district administration, Indian Army, police, ITBP, NDRF, and SDRF were dispatched to the site. Search and rescue operations commenced immediately.

District Disaster Management Officer Nand Kishore Joshi confirmed that the military team, from the 9 Independent Mountain Brigade, had verified the deaths of all six individuals on board. Necessary legal and administrative actions are underway at the scene.

Vivek Prakash, the Additional District Magistrate of Chamoli, reported that the helicopter had five passengers in addition to the pilot, all of whom perished in the crash. Recovery operations have successfully retrieved all bodies, and relief teams are currently at the site. Post-mortem examinations are scheduled to take place in Joshimath on Saturday.