Rudraprayag, 15 June (H.S.): A helicopter from Aryan Aviation, en route from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, crashed in a forest, killing five individuals. Among the seven passengers on board were six pilgrims (five adults and a child) and a pilot. The incident occurred at 5:20 AM, with the crash site located between Gaurikund and Sonprayag.The pilgrims hailed from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Initial reports suggest that technical issues and adverse weather conditions contributed to the crash. Locals discovered the wreckage while out collecting fodder, prompting a response from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his condolences and noted that rescue efforts were underway. This incident marks the fifth helicopter accident related to the Kedarnath temple since its reopening on May 2.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar