Badrinath helicopter crashes near Joshimath in Uttarakhand; six reported on board

A helicopter operated by a private aviation company crashed near Chai village, close to Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, on Friday. Six people are reported to have been on board the aircraft.

The crash occurred in the Vishnuprayag area, between Badrinath and Joshimath. Rescue teams from the district administration and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed to the site.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed the incident in a post on X, saying that a joint rescue operation was underway. He also said he was personally monitoring the situation.

Dhami said instructions had been issued to ensure that passengers who were seriously injured were immediately airlifted to advanced medical facilities for treatment. He also expressed hope for the safe return of everyone on board.

Meanwhile, medical teams have been rushed to the area, and officials are coordinating the 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. Other helicopters have been deployed for aerial reconnaissance and to assist in locating the aircraft.

According to preliminary information, the helicopter, bearing registration number VT-HCX and operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, took off from Badrinath at around 1.12 pm. Its last reported contact was near the Army post atop Hathi Pahad, opposite Joshimath.

Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said the administration launched rescue efforts immediately after receiving information about the incident. The district administration is coordinating with the helicopter operator to assess the situation.

However, persistent rainfall and dense cloud cover in the region have made the search and rescue operation difficult.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Madan Singh Bisht said officials were gathering information about the incident. Further details, including 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.

With IANS inputs