Uttarakhand Helicopter Crash: Five passengers were killed in a chartered helicopter crash near Ganganani in Uttarkashi district, while two others sustained serious injuries, confirmed Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey. Administrative and relief teams are currently present at the crash site, ANI reported.

The helicopter was en route from Dehradun to the Harsil helipad. From there, the tourists were scheduled to travel approximately 30 km by road to reach Gangnani.

The news agency also released photos of the wreckage, including one showing blood stains on a seat inside the helicopter.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami offered condolences to the “grief-stricken” families. “The extremely distressing news has been received about the loss of some lives in a helicopter crash near Gangnani in Uttarkashi. SDRF and district administration teams have immediately reached the accident site for relief and rescue operations,” read his post on X when translated to English. 

He added, “May God grant a place at His divine feet to the souls of those who lost their lives in this accident and provide strength to the grief-stricken families to bear this immense sorrow.”

He also shared that he has instructed “administration to provide all possible assistance to the injured and to investigate the accident”. “I am in constant contact with the officials regarding this matter, and every situation is being closely monitored,” he further expressed.

The cause of the crash near Uttarkashi, which shares an International Border (IB) with China, is yet to be determined. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is being investigated. The chartered helicopter from Ahmedabad had six passengers and one captain on board. The helicopter Bell 407 VT-OXF of Aero Trans Service Private Limited crashed in Gangotri valley in Uttarakhand, a senior official in the Ministry of Civil Aviation told ANI.