Helicopter crashes in U’khand, 6 dead

A helicopter on way to the Gangotri temple crashed near Gangnani in Uttarkashi district on Thursday, killing six persons, including the pilot, and leaving one seriously injured, officials said. Five women pilgrims were among the dead.

The private company helicopter, with seven persons on board, crashed over Rishikesh-Gangotri National Highway at around 8:45 am and fell into a gorge about 200-250m deep, State Disaster Response Force said. The helicopter had left Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun for Kharsali helipad. It was on its way to Gangotri from there when it crashed.

District Magistrate Meharban Singh Bisht said six people died on the spot. One of the helicopter occupants was seriously injured in the crash and has been identified as M Bhaskar (51) from Andhra Pradesh. He has been airlifted to AIIMS, Rishikesh.

Those killed were identified as Kala Chandrakant Soni (61), Vijaya Reddy (57), Ruchi Agrawal (56), Radha Agrawal (79), Vedvati Kumari (48) and Capt Robin Singh (60). Capt Singh hailed from Gujarat.

India