Helicopter carrying six people crashes near Joshimath after taking off from Badrinath; rescue operation underway

A helicopter carrying six people, including five passengers and a pilot, crashed near Chayee village close to Joshimath in Uttarakhand on Friday, triggering a search and rescue operation. The aircraft was reportedly returning from Badrinath Dham and was en route to Dehradun.

The crash reportedly occurred in the Vishnuprayag area, between Badrinath and Joshimath. The helicopter, bearing registration number VT-HCX and operated by private aviation company Trans Bharat Aviation, took off from Badrinath at around 1.12 pm.

Contact with the aircraft was reportedly lost near the Army post atop Hathi Pahad, opposite Joshimath.

Rescue teams, including personnel from the district administration, disaster management department and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), have been deployed in the area. Another helicopter has also been sent to conduct aerial reconnaissance and assist in locating the aircraft.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed the incident and said he was personally monitoring the situation.

In a post on social media platform X, Dhami said, "We have received the unfortunate news of a helicopter crash near Chai village, close to Joshimath. A joint rescue operation is being conducted by the district administration, disaster management department, and SDRF."

He added that instructions had been issued to ensure that seriously injured passengers were immediately airlifted to advanced medical facilities for better treatment.

"I myself am continuously monitoring the entire incident. I pray to God for the safe return of the passengers," the Chief Minister said.

Medical teams have been rushed to the area, while officials are coordinating search and rescue efforts.

Chamoli District Disaster Management Officer Nandkishore Joshi said reports had emerged of a white object burning in the forest above the JP Dam, which was suspected to be the helicopter. Authorities have deployed additional helicopters to carry out aerial searches.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Madan Singh Bisht said information about the incident was being gathered.

Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said the administration launched a rescue operation immediately after receiving information about the crash. The district administration and the helicopter operator were working together to assess the situation.

However, persistent rainfall and dense cloud cover in the region have made search and rescue operations difficult. Further details about the crash and the condition of those on board are awaited.

The incident comes after two emergency landings involving helicopters operating on Uttarakhand's Char Dham routes were reported earlier this month. One helicopter made an emergency landing in Rudraprayag due to poor weather, while another was forced to land in Tehri following a technical issue.