Six Dead, One Injured as Helicopter Crashes in Uttarakhand Gorge

At least six people, including the pilot, died when a helicopter crashed into a deep gorge in the Gangani area of Uttarakhand on Thursday morning. The chopper, operated by a private company and bearing registration number VT-OXF, was en route from the sacred Yamunotri Dham when it went down around 8:50am. The aircraft plunged into a gorge estimated to be 200 to 250 metres deep. Of the seven individuals on board, one person survived with injuries and has been airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh for urgent medical treatment.

“Six passengers including the pilot have been killed in the crash while the one injured passenger is being airlifted for treatment to AIIMS Rishikesh,” said to Manoj Aswal, in charge of the Maneri police station. Upon receiving the alert, local police and teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) swiftly reached the crash site to initiate search and rescue operations. Aswal added, “SDRF personnel, alongside local police and other emergency units, are conducting search and rescue operations in the rugged terrain.”

The pilot, identified as Captain Robin Singh, was among those who lost their lives. The deceased also included four people from Mumbai and two from Andhra Pradesh.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered an investigation into the crash. He extended his condolences to the families of the victims and has instructed the district administration to provide all possible assistance to the injured. “Teams of SDRF and district administration are at the spot for relief and rescue work,” the Chief Minister stated. Helicopter services to Kedarnath were temporarily suspended following the incident but have since resumed.