Five Bengaluru Residents Killed in Uttarakhand Helicopter Crash

Tragedy Strikes During Char Dham Pilgrimage

Five friends from Bengaluru, including a Central Crime Branch (CCB) police inspector, were killed when the helicopter they were traveling in crashed near Jyotirmath (Joshimath) in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Friday. According to reports, the group had embarked on the Char Dham pilgrimage three days prior to the accident and were scheduled to return to Bengaluru.

State authorities confirmed that all five deceased passengers were residents of Bengaluru. The victims have been identified as:

• Arun Salunke, 44, a 2007-batch Karnataka Police officer serving as an inspector with the Bengaluru CCB.
• H S Nataraj, 51, head of the Vidya Bharati educational institution.
• Shankar Gowda, 39, an advocate.
• Prathap Ningraju, 41, a civil contractor.
• Sudheer K, 49.

Reports indicate that the pilot, hailing from Delhi, also lost his life in the crash.

Final Communications and Weather Conditions

According to accounts from family members and acquaintances, one of the passengers, H S Nataraj, spoke with a childhood friend via phone at approximately 11 am on Friday. During the conversation from inside the aircraft, Nataraj reportedly stated that the group was waiting for thick fog to clear and visibility to improve before taking off.

Official Responses and Next Steps

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar expressed condolences and stated that the state government is actively coordinating with officials in Uttarakhand to facilitate the return of the victims' bodies to Karnataka. Minister Priyank Kharge also offered public expressions of grief, acknowledging the impact of the loss on the police department and the families involved.

• Verification: Official details regarding the accident's cause are subject to ongoing investigations by aviation and regional authorities in Uttarakhand.
• Practical Implications: Families and associates affected by the incident are advised to monitor official updates from state coordination desks regarding repatriation procedures.