A private helicopter ferrying pilgrims from Kedarnath to Guptkashi crashed in India’s Uttarakhand state early Sunday, killing all seven people on board, including two children, in what authorities are calling a total-loss tragedy in the remote Himalayan region.

Tragedy struck in the early hours of Sunday as a private helicopter crashed in the northern hilly state of Uttarakhand, killing all seven people on board, including two children. The incident occurred on the Kedarnath-Guptkashi route, a densely forested seven-kilometre stretch commonly used by pilgrims visiting the sacred Kedarnath temple.

The chopper, operated by private aviation firm Aryan Aviation, was en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi when it went down under unknown circumstances. Television footage showed smoke rising from the wreckage strewn across the rugged terrain.

"As per preliminary reports and eyewitness accounts, there is no hope of any survivors in the crash," said Vinay Shankar Pandey, a senior state government official.

Among the deceased were the pilot, four male passengers, and two children, all of whom were reportedly visiting the area as pilgrims. Authorities are yet to release the identities of the victims pending notification of their families.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were swiftly deployed to the crash site, along with local police and emergency services. Rescue efforts have been hampered by the difficult mountainous terrain and dense forest cover.

Officials have launched an initial investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Mechanical failure and weather conditions are being considered, although no official conclusions have yet been drawn.

The Kedarnath route is one of the most popular pilgrimage circuits in India and sees high air traffic during the religious season. Safety protocols for chartered flights operating in this region may now come under increased scrutiny.

Copied