Helicopter carrying Hindu pilgrims crashes in India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, killing 7
LUCKNOW, India — A helicopter carrying Hindu pilgrims crashed early Sunday in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, killing seven people on board, officials said.
The chopper was flying to Guptkashi, a prominent Hindu pilgrimage site in the Himalayas, from Kedarnath temple town, when it crashed. The accident occurred within minutes after the helicopter took off, officials said, on what should have been a 10-minute flight.
The crash comes three days after an Air India flight fell from the sky and killed at least 270 people in Gujarat state. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad minutes after takeoff Thursday , killing 241 people on board and at least 29 on the ground. One passenger survived.
Nandan Singh Rajwar, a local disaster management official, said authorities have launched a rescue and search operation following the helicopter crash and are expected to review operational protocols for flights in the region.
The chopper, operated by Aryan Aviation, a private helicopter service company, went down in a forested area near the Kedarnath pilgrimage route at around 5:30 a.m. local time. Officials said the crash was believed to have been caused by poor weather conditions.
Kedarnath is home to one of the four most sacred Hindu temple shrines and receives tens of thousands of pilgrims each year during the summer season, many of whom use helicopter services due to the difficult mountainous terrain.
Officials said the dead included the pilot and pilgrims from the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh and western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. The bodies were badly burned in a fire that followed the crash, they said.
Helicopter mishaps are not uncommon in the treacherous Kedarnath region, where sudden weather changes and high-altitude flying conditions can pose risks.
On June 7, a helicopter operating in the Kedarnath Valley made an emergency landing on a highway due to technical fault shortly after taking off. The pilot was injured but all five passengers on board were unharmed.
On May 8, a helicopter crashed in Uttarkashi district, killing six people, including the pilot. One person survived.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Bridge collapse at popular tourist destination in India kills at least 2 dead, injures 32
At least two people died and 32 others were injured after an iron bridge over a river collapsed on Sunday at a popular tourist destination in India's western Maharashtra state, the state's top elected official said. Devendra Fadnavis, the chief minister of Maharashtra, said at least six people were hospitalized in critical condition because of their injuries. In a social media post, Fadnavis said he was "deeply saddened to learn about the tragic incident" and offered condolences to the families of the victims who died. Local media reported that scores of tourists were on the bridge when it collapsed, plunging many into the swollen river. Fadnavis also acknowledged people had been swept away and said a search operation was ongoing to find them. Six people have been rescued so far, he said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "expressed deep grief" over the collapse in a phone conversation with Fadnavis where he pledged to provide any resources necessary to the Maharashtra state government, according to the chief minister's office. The incident occurred in the Kundamala area in Pune district, which has witnessed heavy rains over the past few days, giving the river a steady flow, Press Trust of India reported. It was not raining when the bridge collapsed in an area frequented by picnickers, the news agency reported. Rescuers work at the site of a bridge collapse near Pune, India, Sunday, June 15, 2025. AP Photo Police said teams of the National Disaster Response Force and other search and recovery units have undertaken rescue operations, Press Trust said. India's infrastructure has long been marred by safety concerns, sometimes leading to major disasters on its highways and bridges. In 2022, a century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into a river in the western state of Gujarat, sending hundreds plunging into the water and killing at least 132 in one of the worst accidents in the country in the past decade.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Two killed and 32 injured as bridge collapses at tourist destination in India
At least two people died and 32 others were injured when an iron bridge over a river collapsed at a popular tourist destination in India's western Maharashtra state, the state's top elected official has said. At least six people were taken to hospital in a critical condition, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis wrote on the social media platform X. Local media reported that scores of tourists were on the bridge when it collapsed, plunging many into the swollen river. Mr Fadnavis said six people were rescued and that an intense search operation was ongoing as some people were swept away. The incident occurred in the Kundamala area in Pune district, which has witnessed heavy rains over the past few days, giving the river a steady flow, the Press Trust of India reported. It was not raining when the bridge collapsed in an area frequented by picnickers, the news agency reported. Police said teams of the National Disaster Response Force and other search and recovery units have undertaken rescue operations, the Press Trust said. India's infrastructure has long been marred by safety concerns, sometimes leading to major disasters on its highways and bridges. In 2022, a century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into a river in the western state of Gujarat, sending hundreds plunging into the water and killing at least 132 in one of the worst accidents in the country in the past decade.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Helicopter carrying Hindu pilgrims crashes in India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, killing 7
LUCKNOW, India (AP) — A helicopter carrying Hindu pilgrims crashed on Sunday in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, killing seven people on board, officials said. The helicopter was headed to Guptkashi, a prominent Hindu pilgrimage site in the Himalayas, from Kedarnath temple town when it crashed minutes after taking off, officials said, on what should have been a 10-minute flight. Nandan Singh Rajwar, a local disaster management official, said authorities have launched a rescue and search operation following the helicopter crash. The helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation, a private helicopter service company, went down in a forested area near the Kedarnath pilgrimage route at around 5:30 a.m. local time. Officials said the crash was believed to have been caused by poor weather conditions. Officials said the dead included the pilot and pilgrims from the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh and western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. The bodies were badly burned in a fire that followed the crash, they said. India's Civil Aviation Ministry suspended the operations of Aryan Aviation and directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to oversee all helicopter activity in the region, according to Press Trust of India. The ministry also ordered an investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, the news agency said. The crash comes three days after an Air India passenger plane crashed with the loss of at least 270 people in Gujarat state. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad minutes after takeoff Thursday, killing 241 people on board and at least 29 on the ground. One passenger survived. Kedarnath is home to one of the four most sacred Hindu temple shrines and receives tens of thousands of pilgrims each year during the summer season, many of whom use helicopter services due to the difficult mountainous terrain. Helicopter mishaps are not uncommon in the treacherous Kedarnath region, where sudden weather changes and high-altitude flying conditions can pose risks. According to Press Trust, Sunday's was the fifth helicopter accident since the pilgrimage began in the region on April 30. On June 7, a helicopter operating in the Kedarnath Valley made an emergency landing on a highway due to technical fault shortly after taking off. The pilot was injured but all five passengers on board were unharmed.
