In a heartbreaking incident that has sent shockwaves through the religious community in India, a helicopter carrying pilgrims crashed into a mountainside in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, on Thursday morning, May 8.
The crash, which occurred near the Gangnani area along the Gangotri route, has left six people dead and one person injured.
The tragic accident happened at around 8:40 a.m. The helicopter was on its way from Sahastradhara helipad to Kharsali, carrying four men, two women, and the pilot, Captain Robin Singh.
Unfortunately, none of the passengers, including the pilot, survived.
According to eyewitnesses, the aircraft collided with a tree while flying over a forested area near the Ganganani Nagraja Temple.
Local residents were the first to arrive at the scene.
They began searching through the wreckage for survivors before emergency rescue teams could reach the difficult terrain.
The helicopter, which was operated by Aero Trans Service Pvt, was part of the Char Dham Yatra a significant Hindu pilgrimage to four sacred sites in Uttarakhand.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed the incident in a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
He expressed sorrow over the crash and extended condolences to the grieving families.
“Very sad news has been received about some people getting injured in a helicopter crash near Gangaani in Uttarkashi.
SDRF and district administration teams have immediately reached the spot for relief and rescue work,” Mr Dhami said.
He added, “May God grant peace to the souls of those who died in the accident and give strength to the bereaved families to bear this immense loss.
I have instructed the administration to provide all possible help to the injured and investigate the accident.
I am constantly in touch with the officials in this regard and every situation is being monitored.”
In a follow-up post, Dhami emphasized the government’s commitment to the safety of pilgrims, stating, “It is our top priority to make the journey of every devotee coming for Chardham Yatra safe, smooth and memorable.
We are improving the arrangements related to the Yatra every year, this is the reason why the number of devotees is setting new records every year.”
The district authorities, including the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi, are currently investigating the cause of the crash.
Initial reports suggest that the collision with the tree may have been due to difficult visibility or technical faults, although no official conclusion has been drawn.
