Uttarakhand helicopter crash: CM Dhami orders probe, Karnataka steps in to help families

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday ordered a detailed investigation into the helicopter crash near Chai village, close to Joshimath, that killed all six people on board. He also expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and directed officials to provide them with all possible assistance.

The helicopter, operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, was flying from Badrinath to Sahastradhara in Dehradun when it crashed at around 2 p.m., officials said.

Praying for peace for the departed souls, Dhami directed the concerned authorities to examine all aspects of the accident thoroughly and with utmost seriousness. He also instructed the district administration to ensure that the families of the victims receive timely assistance and all necessary support.

Bodies Recovered From Crash Site

Joint teams of the Uttarakhand Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Army recovered the bodies of all six victims from the crash site after launching rescue operations.

Officials said efforts were under way to transport the bodies from the difficult-to-access location to a place connected by road.

The Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said the bodies were being taken to Joshimath for post-mortem examinations.

"The Karnataka Chief Minister’s Office, Relief Commissioner and Resident Commissioner’s Office at Karnataka Bhavan are coordinating with the Uttarakhand authorities to facilitate the transportation of the mortal remains to Karnataka at the earliest. The state government has assured all possible assistance to the families of the deceased," an official statement said.

Victims Identified, Karnataka Coordinates Return

The pilot was identified as Captain Himanshu Sabharwal, a resident of Delhi. The five passengers were Pratap, Arun, Shankar Gowda, Sudheer K. and H.S. Natraja, all from Karnataka, police said.

According to official information, Shankar Gowda was an advocate, while H.S. Nataraj ran a poultry business in Huliyurdurga in Karnataka. Pratap was a businessman in Hassan district.

Officials confirmed that there were no women or children on board the helicopter.

Helicopter Lost Contact Minutes After Take-Off

Chamoli Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh Panwar said the helicopter took off from the Badrinath civil helipad at around 1.12 p.m. on Friday, bound for the Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun. Contact with the aircraft was lost two minutes later near Joshimath.

Addressing the media, Panwar said, "One helicopter belonging to 'Trans Bharat Aviation' took off from the Badrinath Civil Helipad for the Sahastradhara Helipad at around 1.12 p.m. At around 1.14 p.m., contact with the aircraft was lost near Joshimath."

He added that local personnel stationed in the nearby area had reported seeing the helicopter heading into a valley while flying at a considerable height.

The Chief Minister's order for a detailed investigation is aimed at establishing the circumstances that led to the crash.

(With IANS inputs)