Tragedy in Chamoli: 6 Dead in Uttarakhand Helicopter Crash; CM Orders Probe
All six people on board a Trans Bharat Aviation helicopter died in a crash in Chamoli. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered a detailed probe.
A wave of mourning has gripped the region after a devastating Uttarakhand helicopter crash claimed the lives of all six people on board. The aircraft, which was transporting passengers from Badrinath Dham to Dehradun, went missing on Wednesday before being located at the site of the crash in the Chamoli district.
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Demands Answers
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed his profound grief over the tragic loss of life. Extending his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, the Chief Minister prayed for the peace of the departed souls.
Taking immediate action, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) confirmed that Dhami has instructed officials to launch a comprehensive and detailed investigation into the causes of the accident. He has emphasized that every single aspect of the crash must be examined with utmost seriousness to determine what went wrong.
Furthermore, the CM has directed the district administration to ensure that the affected families receive all possible assistance, including prompt relief measures and necessary arrangements during this period of crisis.
The Timeline of the Tragedy
According to Prateek Jain, the Chief Executive Officer of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), all six individuals, including the pilot, perished in the accident. The flight, operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, had a brief and tragic window of communication.
Chamoli Superintendent of Police (SP) Surjeet Singh Panwar provided a detailed timeline of the events in a recorded statement:
- 1:12 PM: The helicopter took off from the Badrinath civil helipad, destined for the Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun.
- 1:14 PM: Just two minutes after takeoff, the aircraft lost its transmission link with the radar near Joshimath.
The search operation was intensified immediately, with two specialized teams consisting of the police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Army personnel deployed from Joshimath and Pandukeshwar.
Eye-Witness Account from the Army
The location of the crash was pinpointed thanks to reports from a nearby Army post. Personnel stationed there observed the helicopter heading directly into the valley. The crash site was identified as being approximately one kilometer above the Bhandakand Temple, located near Pandukeshwar.
Loss of a Decorated Officer
Among the victims was Arun Salunke, a 2007-batch officer from Karnataka's Belagavi district. A resident of Aratala village in Athani taluk, Salunke had a distinguished career in law enforcement.
His professional journey began as an Intelligence Inspector in Delhi, followed by various postings in Bengaluru, including Nelamangala, Kunigal, and Banaswadi. At the time of the accident, he was serving with the Central Crime Branch (CCB). He is survived by his wife and two children in Bengaluru, as well as his father and brother in his native village.