Select Language:
DEHRADUN: A tragic helicopter crash in India claimed the lives of seven individuals, including a young child, on Sunday as it was transporting Hindu pilgrims from a shrine in the Himalayas, officials reported.
This tragedy unfolds as families grieve the loss of at least 279 people who perished when a passenger airplane crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad, a city in western India, just days earlier.
The helicopter, which was returning from the Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand, went down, resulting in the death of the pilot and all six passengers aboard, said disaster response official Nandan Singh Rajwar in a statement to AFP.
Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, expressed his sorrow over the incident and announced that rescue teams were on their way to the crash site after hearing the “very sad news.”
According to district tourism official Rahul Chaubey, adverse weather conditions are believed to have played a role in the crash.
During the summer months, pilgrims flock to Kedarnath temple, which is situated at an elevation of 3,584 meters (11,759 feet) and accessible only during this time.
The rise of helicopter charter companies reflecting a burgeoning market caters to affluent pilgrims aiming to visit Himalayan shrines without engaging in strenuous hikes.
Just last month, six people died in another helicopter incident while en route to the same shrine.
Add us on ChatGPT
Add us on Perplexity
