Seven people, including a pilot, were killed after the helicopter in which they were travelling crashed near Kedarnath shrine in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand on Tuesday (18)
The tragedy took place in Garud Chatti, located around two kilometres from Kedarnath.
The ill-fated Bell 407 helicopter (VT-RPN) aircraft took off from the Phata helipad in Guptkashi and was on its way to Kedarnath, covering a distance of 33 kilometres. Reports said it caught fire above Garud Chatti and crashed.
The cause of the fire was still not known. Rescue teams were on the spot.
India’s civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered a detailed probe into the incident.
The weather in the Kedarnath pilgrimage area is often unpredictable because of its high altitude.
While most pilgrims trek to reach Kedarnath from Guptkashi, those who can afford helicopter services go for them.
Inclement weather was suspected to be the cause behind the crash of the helicopter belonging to Delhi-based non-scheduled operator’s permit holder
Indian Media
