Dehradun: A tragic helicopter crash near Gangnani in Uttarkashi on Thursday morning claimed the lives of five tourists, leaving two others injured.
The incident occurred when the helicopter was en route from Dehradun’s Sahastradhara to Harshil.
According to Uttarkashi Police, the helicopter crashed on the Rishikesh-Gangotri National Highway at approximately 8:45 a.m.
The Bell helicopter involved in the crash belongs to Ahmedabad-based private company AeroTrans Services Pvt Ltd, which, according to aviation regulator DGCA’s website, owns two Bell helicopters and one Cessna aircraft.
A total of seven people were onboard, including passengers Vinit Gupta, Arvind Agarwal, Vipin Agarwal, Pinki Agarwal, Rashmi, and Kishore Jadhav, along with pilot Robin Singh.
Among the passengers, four hailed from Mumbai, while two were from Andhra Pradesh.
Upon hearing of the accident, locals, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Quick Response Teams (QRTs), and 108 ambulance vehicles rushed to the scene.
Additionally, two police teams, led by Naveen Kumar from Bhatwadi and Pushar Jeena from Ujeli, arrived promptly.
The SDRF team located the wreckage in a 200-250 metre gorge, initiating a rescue operation. The cause of the crash remains unknown.
Following the tragic event, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives. The Chief Minister also directed the administration to provide all possible assistance to the injured and conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will conduct an investigation, officials confirmed.
Under the civil aviation ministry, AAIB is responsible for classifying safety occurrences involving aircraft operating in Indian airspace into accidents, serious incidents, and incidents.
The bureau conducts detailed investigations into accidents and recommends measures to enhance aviation safety.
(with agency inputs)