A crashed on Sunday in the state of Uttarakhand in northern killing all six on board including the pilot, local media reported.
“Very sad news has been received about a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district,” state Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said in a post on X.
He added that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local officials and rescue teams had started relief operations.
The Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) said the helicopter had been traveling from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi and added that one of the passengers was a child.
The UCADA said it has sent a team to the crash site to investigate the reason behind the crash.
Locals who had gone to collect fodder for their cattle spotted the helicopter debris and alerted the authorities, Indian news magazine The Week reported.
Helicopter safety in Uttarakhand
The chopper belonged to a private company called Aryan Aviation.
Dhami has issued directives for helicopters in the state. He said Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) should be prepared for helicopters including a thorough technical inspection and accurate weather information, reported daily newspaper Times of India.
In May, a helicopter on the way to Gangotri Dham in the state had crashed, killing six. Another helicopter had to make an emergency landing in June, where the pilot sustained injuries.
is a popular tourist destination with its mountains and greenery. It is also a major pilgrimage destination for Hindus with several temples and holy sites.
India recently suffered a , killing 270.
Edited by: Zac Crellin
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