Helicopter crash with six people on board in Uttarakhand, India

A helicopter carrying six people, including one pilot and five pilgrims, crashed on Friday in the mountainous Uttarakhand state of northern India. The aircraft, reportedly operated by Charlie X-ray Company, disappeared near Hathi Parvat after taking off from the Badrinath Hindu pilgrimage site. The intended destination was Dehradun, but communication was lost during the flight near the village of Joshimath in the Chamoli district.

Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, confirmed the crash and stated that search and rescue operations are currently underway in the rugged region. Authorities have deployed teams to the site to locate survivors, though the status of the passengers remains uncertain. The incident occurred amid adverse weather conditions, specifically heavy rain and limited visibility, which complicated flight operations and the ongoing search efforts. The exact cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and officials continue to monitor the situation as the rescue mission proceeds in the remote area.