Uttarakhand Helicopter Crash: All 6 Bodies Recovered
Mortal remains of pilot and five passengers from Karnataka recovered after a helicopter crashed in the Hathi Parvat area of Uttarakhand.
The Karnataka government has confirmed that the mortal remains of all six individuals, including the pilot, have been recovered following a tragic Uttarakhand helicopter crash that occurred on Friday. The victims, which included five passengers hailing from Karnataka, were traveling from Badrinath to Dehradun when the aircraft went down in the rugged terrain of the Hathi Parvat area.
Timeline of the Tragedy
The flight, operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, departed from the Badrinath civil helipad at approximately 1:12 PM on October 30, bound for the Sahastradhara helipad. However, the journey turned fatal shortly after takeoff.
According to a statement by Chamoli Superintendent of Police (SP) Surjeet Singh Panwar, the helicopter's transmission link with the radar was lost near Joshimath at 1:14 PM, just two minutes after departure. The aircraft was reported missing later that day, sparking an urgent search operation.
Massive Search and Rescue Operation
Following the loss of contact, the Uttarakhand State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) and disaster management authorities launched a comprehensive rescue mission. The operation involved a coordinated effort from multiple agencies, including:
- The Indian Army
- State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)
- Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
- Local Police and Health Department
- District disaster management authorities
Two dedicated teams were deployed from Joshimath and Pandukeshwar to scour the hilly terrain. Their efforts eventually led to the discovery of the crash site in the Hathi Parvat region, where the remains of all six occupants were found.
Government Coordination and Next Steps
The recovered bodies are currently being transported to Joshimath for post-mortem examinations. The Karnataka government is working closely with Uttarakhand authorities to ensure the remains are returned to their home state as quickly as possible.
Coordination is being handled at multiple levels, involving the Karnataka Chief Minister’s Office, the Relief Commissioner, and the office of the Resident Commissioner at Karnataka Bhavan. The Karnataka government has stated that it is providing all necessary assistance to the grieving families of the deceased.