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Six passengers, including the pilot, have tragically lost their lives after a helicopter en route to a pilgrimage site crashed into a mountainside.
The aircraft was traveling on the Gangotri route in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, India, when it went down in a forested area near Gangnani on Thursday morning, May 8.
It has now been confirmed that six people onboard, including the pilot, Captain Robin Singh, have died, while one person has sustained injuries.
Eyewitnesses reported that the helicopter struck a tree, prompting locals to rush to the wreckage in hopes of assisting any potential survivors. Local residents quickly reached the crash site before rescue teams could arrive due to the challenging terrain. The helicopter had departed from the Sahastradhara helipad and was en route to Kharsali when it crashed. The passengers included four males and two females, in addition to the pilot.
It is believed the passengers were pilgrims traveling to the Char Dham, a group of four important Hindu pilgrimage sites in India.
The helicopter, operated by Aero Trans Service Pvt, crashed around 8:40 AM near the Ganganani Nagraja Temple.
Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, confirmed that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and district administration teams had arrived at the scene to assist with rescue operations.
“Very sad news has come in about some people being injured in a helicopter crash near Gangaani in Uttarkashi. SDRF and district administration teams have immediately reached the spot for relief and rescue work,” Mr. Dhami posted on X.
“May God grant peace to the souls of those who died in the accident and give strength to the bereaved families to bear this immense loss. I have instructed the administration to provide all possible help to the injured and investigate the cause of the crash. I am constantly in touch with the officials and every situation is being monitored.”
In a subsequent post, he added: “Ensuring the safety of every devotee participating in the Char Dham Yatra is our top priority. We continuously improve the arrangements for the Yatra every year, which is why the number of devotees continues to set new records.”
The cause of the crash is still under investigation. The District Magistrate of Uttarkashi is en route to the crash site to assess the situation.
