Helicopter with 7 Onboard Crashes Near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand

A helicopter carrying seven people, including six passengers and a pilot, crashed near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand early Sunday morning, authorities have confirmed.

According to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), the crash occurred at approximately 5:20 a.m. as the chopper was flying from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi. Among the passengers were five adults and one child, with individuals hailing from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

Inspector General of Police (Garhwal Range), Rajiv Swaroop, said the crash site is located in a remote area, making rescue operations challenging. Teams from the police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed to the scene.

Reacting to the incident, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“Very sad news has been received about a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district. SDRF, local administration, and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. I pray to Baba Kedar for the safety of all the travellers.”

Rescue efforts are ongoing and further details are awaited.