Uttarakhand helicopter crash: A 23-month-old toddler along with her parents were among the seven persons presumed dead in the chopper crash
All 7 on board killed in Uttarakhand helicopter crash: Seven persons on board an ill-fated helicopter, including the pilot and a 23-month-old toddler, were killed after the chopper crashed near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand early Sunday (June 15) morning.
The chopper was returning from Kedarnath temple to Guptkashi, and crashed in a forest near Gaurikund.
“Extremely distressing news of a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district has been received. SDRF, local administration, and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations,” Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami wrote on ‘X’, formerly Twitter.
“At around 5:30 AM, we got the information that a helicopter, which was going from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, could not be located. After some time, it was learnt that it had crashed near Gaurikund. Rescue operation is underway, SDRF teams have reached the spot. A total of 6 passengers and one pilot were on board the helicopter. Since the rescue operation is underway and seeing the weather conditions in the valley, our shuttle services have been closed. Almost all the helicopters are involved in the rescue operation. DM and SSP will also reach the site soon, news agency ANI quoted Sonika, CEO of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), as saying.
“The weather turned bad during the return journey. The pilot tried to move the chopper out of the valley but it crashed near Gaurikund. Authorities, including NDRF and SDRF are leading the operations,” NDTV quoted Rahul Chaubey from the District Tourism Development as saying.
An employee of Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) was also among the deceased persons.
Helicopter services operating in the Char Dham region have been suspended until further notice following the chopper crash.
Three members of a family from Maharashtra’s Yavatmal — Rajkumar Jaiswal, Shradhha Jaiswal and their 23-month-old daughter Kashi Jaiswal — were also killed. Their son, who stayed back with his grandfather, was saved.
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