Rescue teams have been dispatched to a mountainous area in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand following the crash of a helicopter carrying six people. Officials confirmed that among those on board were five pilgrims, though the current condition of the passengers remains unclear. The aircraft reportedly departed from the Hindu pilgrimage site of Badrinath on Friday afternoon before losing contact with authorities.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that the crash occurred near a village close to Joshimath. He announced that a joint rescue operation is currently underway, involving the district administration, the disaster management department, and the State Disaster Response Force. Dhami noted that he is continuously monitoring the situation and has ordered that any seriously injured individuals be airlifted for immediate medical treatment.
The incident took place amid reports of heavy rain and poor visibility in the region. India's weather department had previously issued an orange alert for the area, warning of thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds. The specific cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Uttarakhand is a Himalayan state bordering China and Nepal, known for hosting some of Hinduism's holiest shrines. Badrinath is one of four sacred sites on the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, alongside Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. While helicopter services have become increasingly popular among devotees seeking to avoid difficult mountain journeys, their safety has faced scrutiny following a series of accidents.
This crash follows other tragic incidents in the region. In June 2025, seven people were killed when a helicopter carrying pilgrims crashed near Kedarnath, and another seven died in a similar accident on the same route in October 2022. Several other helicopter accidents reported during the 2025 pilgrimage season prompted aviation authorities to tighten safety checks and restrict certain operations.
Sources: BBC News World.