A helicopter carrying five passengers and a pilot crashed near Joshimath while flying from Badrinath to Dehradun, according to Indian officials
CHAMOLI, INDIA — WEB DESK: Six people were killed when a helicopter crashed in India’s northern Himalayan state of Uttarakhand on Friday, October 30, while travelling from the pilgrimage destination of Badrinath to Dehradun, according to Indian officials.
The aircraft was carrying five passengers and a pilot. It crashed near Chhai village in Chamoli district, close to Joshimath, after losing communication while flying over the Joshimath valley.
Helicopter lost contact over Joshimath valley
The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) said the helicopter lost communication while crossing the Joshimath valley. Its tracking system also stopped detecting the aircraft.
The helicopter was operated by Trans Bharat Aviation and was travelling from Badrinath towards Dehradun, the state capital.
The Associated Press reported that the wreckage was located near Chhai village, close to an Indian Army camp in Chamoli district. Police officer Surjit Singh Panwar confirmed that all six bodies had been recovered.
Operator grounds entire helicopter fleet
UCADA said the entire fleet operated by Trans Bharat Aviation had been grounded as a precautionary measure following the crash.
A joint search and rescue operation involved the district administration, disaster management teams and security personnel, according to officials.
Rain and poor visibility affected rescue efforts in the mountainous region, the Associated Press reported.
The cause of the crash had not been officially established in the reports available at the time of publication. Adverse weather conditions were reported in the area, but no confirmed investigation finding had identified them as the cause.
Helicopter safety concerns in Uttarakhand
The crash has renewed attention on helicopter safety in Uttarakhand, where aircraft are frequently used to transport pilgrims to high-altitude Hindu shrines during the annual Char Dham pilgrimage season.
According to figures cited by the Associated Press, the state recorded 12 helicopter crashes between 2016 and 2026, resulting in 21 deaths.
Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding Friday’s accident, including the aircraft’s final communications and the conditions along its flight route.
