6 Dead in Uttarkashi Helicopter Crash

The North News

New Delhi, May 8

A helicopter carrying six people, including the pilot, has crashed in the mountainous terrain of Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district, killing all on board. The crash occurred on Thursday near Ganganani, a popular stopover on the pilgrimage route to Gangotri. Emergency services rushed to the site after the wreckage was spotted in a remote border area of the district. Mangled debris lay strewn across a hillside, with charred remains of the aircraft visible in video footage, according to media reports. Officials initially reported that one person had been rescued, though this was later corrected, with the district disaster management office confirming six fatalities.

The helicopter had taken off from Dehradun and was en route to the Harsil helipad, a high-altitude landing site used frequently during the Char Dham pilgrimage season. Passengers on board were due to travel a further 30km by road to Gangnani, the news outlet NDTV reported.

Uttarkashi’s district magistrate has also reached the scene as investigators begin probing the circumstances surrounding the crash. Helicopter services are commonly used in the region to ferry pilgrims and tourists across difficult terrain, especially during the summer pilgrimage season. However, unpredictable weather, high altitudes, and narrow valleys often make flying in the area risky.