Helicopter Crash
Helicopter carrying six crashes near Badrinath, passengers' fate remains unknown
A helicopter carrying six people crashed in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Friday, state Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed.
The condition of those on board remains unclear.
According to reports, the helicopter had taken off from the temple town of Badrinath before the crash. It was operated by private aviation firm Trans Bharat Aviation.
The helicopter reportedly lost communication while flying over the Joshimath valley, following which its tracking system also stopped transmitting.
A search and rescue operation is currently underway.
Footage of the Helicopter before it crashed near Joshimath in Uttarakhand. The wreckage is yet to be found as rescue teams have been deployed with two additional helicopters https://t.co/vD6oKKyhbC
— Nightmare (@Nightshade00077) October 30, 2026
The pilot has been identified as Himanshu, while the five passengers have been named as Prathapa, Arun, Shankar Gowda, Sudheer K and HS Natraja, India Today reported.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
चाई गांव, जोशीमठ के निकट हेलीकॉप्टर क्रैश होने की दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण सूचना प्राप्त हुई है। जिला प्रशासन, आपदा प्रबंधन विभाग, एसडीआरएफ द्वारा संयुक्त रूप से रेस्क्यू ऑपरेशन चलाया जा रहा है। स्वयं भी पूरे घटनाक्रम की निरंतर निगरानी कर रहा हूं। गंभीर रूप से घायलों को तत्काल एयरलिफ्ट कर बेहतर उपचार हेतु हायर सेंटर पहुंचाने के निर्देश दिए हैं। ईश्वर से यात्रियों के सकुशल होने की कामना करता हूं।
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) October 30, 2026
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took to X to express concern over the incident.
"We have received the unfortunate news of a helicopter crash near Chayee village, close to Joshimath. A joint rescue operation is being conducted by the district administration, disaster management department, and SDRF," he wrote.
He further said, "I myself am continuously monitoring the entire incident. Instructions have been given to immediately airlift the seriously injured to higher centres for better treatment. I pray to God for the safe return of the passengers."
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