A couple and their two-year-old daughter hailing from Yavatmal in Maharashtra were among the seven persons killed after a helicopter crashed near the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand on Sunday, a former legislator said.
The helicopter took off from Kedarnath for Guptkashi around 5.30 am and crashed soon after above the forests of Gaurikund. Five pilgrims, the pilot and an employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee was among those killed, as per officials.
The deceased included Rajkumar Jaiswal, a transport businessman, his wife Shraddha, and their two-year-old daughter Kashi, hailing from Yavatmal, former Wani MLA Vishvas Nandekar told reporters.
Jaiswal along with his family members had left from Wani in Yavatmal on June 12 to visit the Lord Kedarnath temple, as per their family friends.
The crash site is located nearly 5 km above Gaurikund known as Gauri Mai Khark. Sources said the chopper belonging to Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd crashed between Gaurikund and Trijuginarayan in Kedarghati and caught fire.
Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said zero visibility caused by bad weather apparently led to the crash.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will probe the helicopter crash, a statement issued by the civil aviation ministry said.
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A helicopter crashed this morning in the hilly region of Gaurikund Khark in the Kedarnath area of Uttarakhand, resulting in the deaths of seven people, including six pilgrims and the pilot.
The helicopter was en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi. As soon as the incident was reported, rescue teams were dispatched to the site and relief and rescue operations were launched. The SDRF stated that the crashed helicopter was completely burnt and all bodies have been recovered.
District Tourism Officer Rahul Choubey said that due to bad weather, the helicopter suddenly collided with a tree, causing this accident.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered suspension of helicopter services for two days. Expressing deep sorrow over this tragic accident, he said, safety of the passengers is top priority, and the helicopter services will be resumed after due investigation.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will investigate the crash. Directorate General of Civil Aviation said, the helicopter took off from Kedarnath this morning for Guptkashi, and crashed near Gaurikund. As a precautionary measure, DGCA has already reduced the frequency of helicopter operations to Char Dham. It is carrying out the enhanced surveillance and reviewing the operation for any further action.