In brief
Officials confirmed a helicopter crashed near Chayee village close to Joshimath, taking off from Badrinath amid snowfall. All six aboard are feared dead, and a joint rescue operation is underway. Unconfirmed reports mention smoke rising from the crash site, and an earlier similar incident on the pilgrimage route was noted by BBC.
A helicopter carrying six people, including five Hindu pilgrims and a pilot, crashed near Chayee village in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Friday, officials say, leaving all aboard feared dead.
The crash occurred about 290 km northeast of Dehradun, Uttarakhand’s capital, at the Hathi Parvat area near Chayee village, close to Joshimath. The aircraft had taken off from the pilgrimage town of Badrinath around 1:14 p.m. local time amid snowfall and lost contact shortly thereafter.
Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand Chief Minister, said the district administration, the disaster‑management department and the State Disaster Response Force were coordinating a joint rescue operation, and an additional helicopter was dispatched for an aerial search.
Unconfirmed reports noted that smoke was seen rising from the area following the crash. The condition of those on board remains uncertain, with all six feared dead but no official confirmation yet.
Rescue operations underway
The authorities have mobilised another helicopter to assist in the search and recovery of the wreckage. Local officials are awaiting confirmation of the victims’ status as they investigate the crash site.
Earlier this year, BBC News reported a similar helicopter crash involving pilgrims on the same pilgrimage route near Kedarnath in June 2025, underscoring the risks of flying in the region’s harsh winter conditions.
