OMM Newsroom
A search for survivors is under way after a helicopter carrying six people, including five pilgrims, crashed in Uttarakhand, northern India, officials say. The condition of those on board remains unclear, according to the BBC.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the aircraft crashed near a village close to Joshimath, in Chamoli district. Rescue teams have been sent to the mountainous area.
The helicopter reportedly took off from the Hindu pilgrimage site of Badrinath on Friday afternoon before losing contact. The cause of the crash is not known.
The incident occurred amid reports of heavy rain and poor visibility. India’s weather department had issued an orange alert for the area, warning of thunderstorms, hail and strong winds.
Dhami said a joint rescue operation involving the district administration, disaster management department and State Disaster Response Force was under way. “I am continuously monitoring the entire incident,” he said.
He added that he had ordered anyone seriously injured to be airlifted for treatment.
Helicopter accidents on pilgrimage routes
Uttarakhand borders China and Nepal and is home to some of Hinduism’s holiest shrines. It attracts millions of pilgrims each year.
Badrinath is one of four sacred sites on the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, alongside Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. The temples are reached through steep Himalayan valleys and are open for only part of the year because of harsh winter conditions.
Helicopter services have become increasingly popular with pilgrims seeking to avoid difficult mountain journeys, but their safety has come under scrutiny after a series of accidents.
In June 2025, seven people were killed when a helicopter carrying pilgrims crashed near Kedarnath. Another seven died in a crash on the same pilgrimage route in October 2022.
Several other helicopter accidents were reported during the 2025 pilgrimage season, prompting aviation authorities to tighten safety checks and restrict some operations.
