Dehradun: Five tourists were killed on the spot and two others injured as a helicopter, in which they were travelling, crashed near Gangnani in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi on Thursday.
The incident occurred around 9 a.m. near Gangnani when the helicopter, belonging to a private company, was flying from Dehradun’s Sahastradhara to Harshil.
Seven people were onboard the helicopter, including passengers Vinit Gupta, Arvind Agarwal, Vipin Agarwal, Pinki Agarwal, Rashmi and Kishore Jadhav, and pilot Robin Singh.
Four passengers hailed from Mumbai while two others from Andhra Pradesh.
After hearing about the accident, locals, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and 108 ambulance vehicles rushed to the spot.
Two police teams, headed by cops Naveen Kumar from Bhatwadi and Pushar Jeena from Ujeli, rushed to the spot.
The SDRF team spotted the helicopter in a 200-250 metre gorge, after which the rescue operation was launched. The cause of the accident is yet to be identified.
After getting the news of the tragic incident, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the demise of those killed in the accident. He also prayed for peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families to bear the irreparable loss. The Chief Minister also instructed the administration to provide all possible help to the injured and probe the incident.
In a post on social media platform X, he said: “Got the news of some casualties in a helicopter crash near Gangani in Uttarkashi. SDRF and district administration teams have immediately reached the spot for relief and rescue work.”
“May God grant peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families to bear this immense sorrow. I have instructed the administration to provide all possible help to the injured and probe the accident. I am constantly in touch with the officials and monitoring every situation,” his post read.
IANS
Cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli leaves 5 missing, washes away six houses
Chamoli: At least five people have been reported missing after a cloudburst triggered by torrential rains struck Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, leaving behind a trail of destruction. The sudden downpour late...
Cloudburst in Himachal’s Mandi washes away buses, buries houses, shops
Shimla: An overnight cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district submerged the bus stand and market in Dharampur town, and washed away many parked buses of the state-run Himachal Road Transport...
Ganesh Visarjan tragedy: Death toll rises to nine in Karnataka
Hassan: The death toll in the tragic incident in Karnataka's Hassan district, where a goods-laden truck ran over people participating in the Ganesh Visarjan procession, has risen to nine. Twenty...
Six killed as construction ropeway snaps at Pavagadh temple site in Gujarat
Gandhinagar: At least six persons were killed and four others injured after a ropeway trolley carrying construction materials for the ongoing renovation work at the famous Pavagadh temple in Gujarat’s...
Refugees pour in even as Afghanistan grapples with quake aftermath
New Delhi: Even as some nations are at war with another -- firing barrages of missiles, or with trade tariffs, Afghanistan is involved in a battle within itself. The largely...
Bihar: Karma Ekadashi turns tragic as 7 drown in Munger and Nawada
Patna: The auspicious festival of Karma Ekadashi, celebrated with devotion and fervour across Bihar on Wednesday, turned into tragedy in Munger and Nawada districts, where seven people lost their lives...
Six killed after landslide bury 2 houses in Himachal Pradesh; rescue op continues
Shimla: Six people, comprising four of a family, were killed after a landslide buried two houses in Sundernagar town in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district, police said on Wednesday. Rescuers found...
Eastern Afghanistan earthquake death toll rises to 1,124
Kabul: The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan has climbed to 1,124, with 3,251 others injured, according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society on Tuesday. Over...
Kejriwal appeals for donations as Punjab faces deadliest floods in 37 years; AAP leaders to donate 1 month’s salary
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday appealed to the nation to come forward and extend financial support to flood-hit Punjab, which is reeling under...
Himachal declared disaster-hit with deaths exceeding 300: CM Sukhu
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Monday announced in the legislative Assembly that the state has been declared disaster-affected, with monsoon rain-related damages exceeding Rs 3,056 crore and...
6.0 magnitude quake strikes Afghanistan: Over 600 killed, more than 1,000 injured
Kabul: The death toll from the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has risen to 622, with more than 1,000 others injured, reported the state-run Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA) on...
Nature’s fury: 10 killed, 3 missing in J&K landslide, cloudburst
Jammu: Ten people were killed and three went missing in the landslide and cloudburst that hit Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi and Ramban districts overnight. State government officials said that seven...
