Chopper Crash in Gangotri Kills Six, Sparks Statewide Shock
Victims of Gangotri crash include pilgrims and pilot; rescue teams battle tough terrain as rescue operation begins.
8 May 2025, New Delhi
Six people were killed, including the pilot, and one passenger was injured when a private helicopter carrying pilgrims to the Gangotri shrine crashed this morning near Gangnani in Uttarkashi district. The incident occurred around 8:50 AM when the chopper, operated by AeroTrans Services Private Limited, plunged into a 200-250 meter deep gorge along the Rishikesh-Gangotri National Highway.
The helicopter, registered VT-OXF, had taken off from Dehradun’s Sahastradhara helipad and was headed to the Kharsali helipad, which is close to Yamunotri. Among the deceased are four ladies from Mumbai: Kala Soni (61), Vijaya Reddy (57), Ruchi Aggarwal (56), and Radha Aggarwal (79), as well as Vedavati Kumari (48) from Andhra Pradesh. The crash also claimed the life of 60-year-old Gujarati pilot Captain Robin Singh. Bhaskar, 51, the only survivor from Andhra Pradesh, was transported to AIIMS Rishikesh for treatment after suffering severe injuries.
Rescue operations were promptly initiated by teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and other emergency units. Upon arrival, responders found the wreckage in a steep gorge approximately 200 to 250 meters deep. Efforts are ongoing to recover the bodies and investigate the cause of the crash.
In addition to ordering a comprehensive probe, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami offered his sincere sympathies for the terrible event. He gave the local government instructions to help the injured and the surviving family members as much as possible. “SDRF and district administration teams have immediately reached the spot for relief and rescue work,” Dhami stated.
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The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been tasked with probing the incident to determine the exact cause of the crash. Preliminary reports suggest that the helicopter was on a routine pilgrimage flight as part of the Char Dham Yatra when the accident occurred.
This tragic event has cast a pall over the ongoing Char Dham Yatra season, raising concerns about the safety measures in place for aerial pilgrimages in the region.
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