A helicopter carrying six individuals, including the pilot, is believed to have crashed on Friday afternoon after departing from Badrinath, a temple town in Uttarakhand. Officials have reported that the helicopter lost communication while flying over the Joshimath valley, and its tracking system ceased to function. The exact location of the helicopter and the condition of those on board remain unknown.

The helicopter, operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, reportedly went missing earlier in the day. A crash was reported around 2.20 pm, prompting the initiation of a search and rescue operation. The pilot has been identified as Himanshu, while the five passengers include Prathapa, Arun, Shankar Gowda, Sudheer K, and HS Natraja. Notably, Arun serves as a police inspector with the Bengaluru Police Crime Branch.

As the search efforts commenced, two additional helicopters were dispatched to assist in locating the wreckage. Teams from the Indian Army, the Chamoli district administration, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been mobilised to the suspected crash site to aid in the operation.

Weather Conditions and Precautions

The cause of the helicopter’s disappearance has not yet been determined. The region has been experiencing heavy rainfall and cloud cover, with snowfall reported in certain areas. However, Prateek Jain, the CEO of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), stated that the helicopter had been cleared for flight after favourable weather conditions were noted.

In light of the incident, officials have grounded the entire fleet of Trans Bharat Aviation as a precautionary measure. The decision aims to ensure the safety of future flights while the investigation into the incident is ongoing. Authorities are assessing the situation closely to determine any necessary changes to operational protocols.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed the helicopter crash near Chayi village in the Joshimath area. He indicated that the district administration, along with the Disaster Management Department and SDRF, are collaboratively conducting rescue operations. Dhami is personally monitoring the situation and has instructed officials to airlift any seriously injured passengers to higher medical facilities for urgent treatment.

Government Response and Rescue Operations

In a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, it was noted that both CM Dhami and Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Madan Kaushik took immediate action regarding the incident. They directed the Disaster Management Secretary to commence relief and rescue operations without delay. All relevant government resources have been mobilised to coordinate the ongoing efforts effectively.

According to Police Sub-Inspector Manohar Kanyal, officials from UCADA indicated that the Trans Bharat Aviation helicopter was located near an Army Camp above Chayi village. While six individuals were confirmed to be on board, complete details about the incident have yet to be clarified, including whether the helicopter experienced a crash or made an emergency landing.

This incident follows two previous emergency landings involving Char Dham helicopters in Uttarakhand earlier in October. One helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in Rudraprayag due to adverse weather conditions, while another landed in Tehri because of a technical issue. These incidents highlight the challenges faced by aviation operations in the region.

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