Helicopter crash kills six in northern India

On Friday, October 30, 2026, a helicopter carrying six people, including five pilgrims and one pilot, crashed in the Himalayan region of the Uttarakhand state, northern India. The aircraft, reportedly operated by Charlie X-ray Company, disappeared from communication shortly after departing from the Hindu pilgrimage site of Badrinath while en route to Dehradun. The wreckage was located near Hathi Parvat in the Chamoli district, close to the town of Joshimath.

Authorities confirmed that all six occupants perished in the accident. Police and rescue teams were deployed to the remote and difficult terrain to recover the bodies and transport them to the nearest road. While the official cause of the crash remains under investigation, officials noted that the region was experiencing adverse weather conditions, specifically heavy rain and limited visibility, at the time of the incident.

The Uttarakhand region is home to several major Hindu shrines that attract millions of pilgrims annually. Wealthy travelers frequently utilize private charter helicopter services to reach these mountainous sites, avoiding strenuous mountain treks. The tragedy follows recent weather warnings from the India Meteorological Department regarding heavy rainfall across the state, which occurred shortly after the impact of Cyclone Arnab on the country's southeastern coast.