Uttarakhand Helicopter Crash: 6 Dead as Aircraft Plummets Near Joshimath; CM Dhami Orders Probe
Six people, including five from Karnataka, died in a Trans Bharat Aviation helicopter crash near Joshimath. CM Dhami orders a probe.
A tragic Uttarakhand helicopter crash has claimed the lives of six people, including a pilot and five passengers hailing from Karnataka. The aircraft, operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, went missing while en route from Badrinath Dham to the Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun, eventually crashing in the rugged terrain of the Joshimath area in Chamoli district.
The Timeline of the Tragedy
The flight began at the Badrinath civil helipad, taking off at approximately 1:12 PM on October 30. However, the journey turned fatal just minutes later. According to Chamoli Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh Panwar, the helicopter's transmission link with the radar was lost near Joshimath at 1:14 PM.
Prateek Jain, the Chief Executive Officer of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), confirmed that the aircraft, bearing the call sign VT-HCX, lost communication while navigating the valley. Shortly after the signal vanished, the tracking system stopped receiving the helicopter's location, triggering an immediate search operation.
Search and Rescue Operations
The search for the missing aircraft involved a massive coordinated effort. Two specialized teams, consisting of the police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Indian Army personnel, were deployed from Pandukeshwar and Joshimath.
Crucial leads came from an Army post, where personnel reported seeing the aircraft heading into the valley, roughly one kilometer above the Bhandakand Temple near Pandukeshwar. To narrow down the search area, a drone was deployed from Gopeshwar.
The situation escalated at 2:21 PM when the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Joshimath reported a possible crash landing above Chai village. This was corroborated by reports of smoke rising from the area, prompting the district administration to send a ground team and an aerial search helicopter to the site.
Government Response and Investigation
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed deep grief over the loss of lives. He has officially directed officials to conduct a comprehensive and detailed investigation into the causes of the accident, ensuring that every aspect of the crash is examined.
"The Chief Minister prayed for the peace of the departed souls and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased," the administration stated.
CM Dhami has further instructed the district administration to provide all possible assistance and prompt relief to the bereaved families. Given that five of the victims were from Karnataka, the state government is coordinating the return of the mortal remains.
Key Details of the Incident:
- Operator: Trans Bharat Aviation
- Call Sign: VT-HCX
- Route: Badrinath Dham to Sahastradhara (Dehradun)
- Casualties: 6 (1 Pilot, 5 passengers from Bengaluru/Karnataka)
- Crash Site: Vicinity of Joshimath Valley, near Chai village
- Responding Agencies: ITBP, Indian Army, SDRF, and local district administration