A helicopter crash in Uttarakhand has resulted in the tragic loss of all seven people on board, including a child. The helicopter was en route from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi when it went down shortly after takeoff around 5:30 AM local time. Local authorities, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, have commenced rescue operations. There are concerns that bad weather may have contributed to the incident. Following this tragedy, there are calls for stricter safety protocols for helicopter operations in the region, which is a significant pilgrimage and tourist destination in India.
"Very sad news has been received about a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district," state Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said in a post on X.
District tourism official Rahul Chaubey told media it was very likely that the accident was caused due to bad weather.
Dhami has issued directives for helicopters in the state. He said Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) should be prepared for helicopters including a thorough technical inspection and accurate weather information.
The helicopter took off around 5:30 am (0000 GMT) local time and crashed soon during its 10-minute journey.
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