Helicopter Crashes Into Mountainside, Killing Six Pilgrims in India

Six passengers, including the pilot, have tragically lost their lives after a helicopter crashed into a mountainside in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, India, on May 8.

The aircraft was en route to a pilgrimage site on the Gangotri route when it went down near Gangnani, a forested area. Captain Robin Singh was confirmed to be among the deceased.

Another passenger was reported to have been injured. Eyewitnesses mentioned that the helicopter collided with a tree, prompting local residents to assist in searching the wreckage for survivors.

The helicopter, which crashed on May 8 near Gangnani Nagraja Temple, was carrying six people, including four males and two females, along with the pilot. They were pilgrims on their way to visit the Char Dham, a group of four prominent Hindu pilgrimage sites in India.

The chopper had taken off from Sahastradhara helipad and was en route to Kharsali when the accident occurred at approximately 8:40 AM.

Local residents arrived quickly before rescue teams could access the crash site, which was in a difficult-to-reach area. The Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, confirmed that State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and district administration teams were on the ground, providing relief and conducting rescue operations at the scene.

“Very sad news has been received about some people getting injured in a helicopter crash near Gangaani in Uttarkashi. SDRF and district administration teams have immediately reached the spot for relief and rescue work,” Mr Dhami said in a post on X.

“May God grant peace to the souls of those who died in the accident and give strength to the bereaved families to bear this immense loss.

“I have instructed the administration to provide all possible help to the injured and investigate the accident. I am constantly in touch with the officials in this regard and every situation is being monitored.”

And in a later post he wrote: “It is our top priority to make the journey of every devotee coming for Chardham Yatra safe, smooth and memorable.

“We are improving the arrangements related to the Yatra every year, this is the reason why the number of devotees is setting new records every year.”

The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, with authorities working to determine the factors that led to the tragic accident. The District Magistrate of Uttarkashi is currently en route to the crash site to assess the situation and coordinate further response efforts.