Six feared killed in Uttarakhand helicopter crash amid bad weather

Six people are feared dead after a helicopter crashed in India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand on Friday with adverse weather conditions suspected to have caused the accident, according to Indian media reports.

NEW DELHI: Six people are feared dead after a helicopter crashed in India’s Himalayan state of Uttarakhand on Friday with adverse weather conditions suspected to have caused the accident, according to Indian media reports.

The helicopter was travelling from Badrinath a major Hindu pilgrimage destination in the Himalayan mountains to Dehradun when the incident occurred. It was carrying five passengers and a pilot according to news agency ANI.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed that his office had received information about a helicopter crash near a village in the Joshimath area.

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Following the incident a joint rescue operation was launched involving the district administration, disaster management authorities and security personnel deployed in the region.

In a statement shared on social media platform X Dhami said rescue teams from the district administration, disaster management department and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were working together at the crash site.

He added that he was continuously monitoring the developments and that arrangements were being made to airlift anyone seriously injured in the incident for immediate medical assistance.

According to television reports rescue personnel quickly reached the crash location after receiving information about the accident. Footage broadcast by local channels reportedly showed smoke and flames rising from the wreckage.

Authorities have initiated emergency response efforts to assess the situation and assist those affected. The reported death toll of six remains preliminary as rescue operations continue.

The helicopter was operating along a route connecting the mountainous pilgrimage destination of Badrinath with Dehradun, the state capital. The region’s challenging terrain and unpredictable weather conditions can make air travel particularly difficult.

Further details about the circumstances surrounding the crash and the identities of those on board were not immediately available.