Helicopter Carrying 6 Crashes Near Uttarakhand's Joshimath, Rescue Operation Underway

Incident Overview

On Friday, a helicopter returning from Badrinath Dham crashed near Chayee village, located close to Joshimath in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India. The aircraft, which was en route to Dehradun, had reportedly gone missing amid adverse weather conditions prior to the discovery of the crash site.

Rescue and Response

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed the crash and stated that a joint rescue operation is currently underway. The effort involves:

• The Chamoli district administration
• The state disaster management department
• The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)

According to officials, there were six individuals on board the helicopter, consisting of five passengers and one pilot. Chief Minister Dhami confirmed on social media that he is monitoring the situation and has issued directives to airlift any injured individuals to advanced medical facilities for urgent care. The district administration has also deployed an aerial search team using another helicopter to support the ongoing rescue mission.

Verification and Next Steps

Official updates regarding the condition of those on board and the specific cause of the crash have not yet been released. Further information is awaited from local authorities. To verify these details, the public is advised to monitor official statements from the Uttarakhand Government or the Chamoli District Magistrate’s office.