Helicopter Crash Near Gangnani Kills 6 While En Route to Gangotri from Dehradun

A tragic helicopter crash occurred on Thursday morning near Gangnani, Uttarkashi, when a helicopter en route to Gangotri Dham from Dehradun crashed on the Gangotri National Highway. The crash was reported around 8:45 am, and immediate rescue operations were launched. Six people lost their lives, and one person was injured in the incident. The helicopter, operated by Heli Aerotrans, had taken off from Sahastradhara helipad and was on its way to Harsil, part of the Char Dham Yatra circuit. The crash occurred when the helicopter fell into a gorge around 200-250 meters deep near the Gangnani area.

Among the seven people on board, the pilot and six passengers were present. Tragically, five women and one man, the pilot, died on the spot. One of the passengers succumbed to injuries during treatment. The passengers included four individuals from Mumbai and two from Andhra Pradesh. The lone survivor, a 51-year-old man from Andhra Pradesh, was injured and undergoing medical treatment. According to officials, the incident occurred while the helicopter was doing a routine flight and not as part of any special operations.

The crash was immediately reported to local authorities, and multiple rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire department, police, and medical teams rushed to the site to assist in rescue operations. A statement from the SDRF revealed that the helicopter had crashed into a gorge and that rescue teams had to descend into the deep gorge to retrieve the bodies and rescue the injured. The SDRF team, coordinated with local police and other emergency units, commenced the operation to retrieve the victims and provide assistance to the injured.

The helicopter’s pilot was identified as Captain Robin Singh. According to the police, there was no indication that the incident occurred due to foul play or malfunctions, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation. The teams from SDRF and local administration worked tirelessly in adverse conditions to ensure timely recovery of the bodies and the injured. The crash site was challenging to access due to the steep terrain of the gorge.

The Uttarakhand government, including Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, expressed deep sorrow and sadness over the tragedy. CM Dhami extended condolences to the families of the victims and confirmed that instructions had been issued to provide all possible assistance to the injured. The government also committed to conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

The incident took place during the Char Dham Yatra, which attracts thousands of pilgrims to Uttarakhand’s holy sites, and the helicopter was likely part of the tourism infrastructure used to transport people to the religious destinations.

The loss of six lives in this incident has left many in shock, especially those from the Mumbai and Andhra Pradesh areas who had traveled to Uttarakhand. While the incident remains under investigation, it highlights the inherent risks involved in air travel, especially in difficult terrains like the hilly regions of Uttarakhand.