KATHMANDU: A helicopter returning from the pilgrimage site of Badrinath in India’s Uttarakhand state crashed on Friday.
The aircraft was en route to Dehradun via Chamoli district when contact with the pilot was lost. According to preliminary information, the helicopter had departed from Badrinath for Sahastradhara in Dehradun. There were 6 passengers on board in addition to the crew members.
Following the incident, teams from the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority and local police have been mobilized for search and rescue operations. Rescue teams have been attempting to establish contact with the pilot via radio and other means, but have not yet succeeded. The search operation has been hampered by adverse weather conditions in the region.
Despite the poor weather, authorities stated that search efforts have been intensified using drones to locate the wreckage. The exact cause of the crash remains unknown, and further details are awaited.
