Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand), June 15: Days after the horrific Ahmedabad plane crash, all seven people on board, including a 23-month-old baby and the pilot, died after helicopter crashed early Sunday morning in the Gaurikund area of Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district.
The helicopter was on its way from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi. This is the fifth aviation accident since the portals of the Kedarnath temple opened on May 2.
As per reports, the helicopter crashed in a thick forested area near Gauri Mai Khark during its short 10-minute flight. It went down between Gaurikund and Sonprayag at around 5:20 a.m.
The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) stated that the victims included six pilgrims — five adults and a baby — from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
The crash is believed to have been caused by poor visibility and bad weather, which officials say were major factors. Rescue and relief operations are underway, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) heading to the site to help with recovery efforts.
The crash site is in a hard-to-reach forest area above Gauri Mai Khark, making rescue operations even more difficult.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the incident and said, "Very sad news has been received about a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district. SDRF, local administration and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. I pray to Baba Kedar for the safety of all the travellers."
