A chopper carrying seven people crashed today near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, killing everyone on board.
At around 11.40 am in Rudraprayag, a helicopter carrying pilgrims crashed just after taking off from the Kedarnath shrine close to Garud Chatti, according to officials. Six pilgrims' bodies as well as that of a pilot have been found there.
The preliminary inquiry indicates that the crash was caused by inclement weather and poor visibility, but a thorough examination will reveal the precise reason for the disaster.
Sources with the aviation regulators claimed that a loud boom was heard prior to the helicopter catching fire. A huge plume of smoke was visible from the location. At the scene of the disaster, a joint search and rescue effort is being conducted by the district police, the State Disaster Response Force, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Anil Singh, the helicopter's pilot, and passengers Purva Ramanuj, Kriti, Urvi, Sujata, Prem Kumar, and Kala have been named.
Tweets on the incident were sent out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and the Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M. Scindia.
The Prime Minister's Office posted on Twitter, "Angered by the helicopter crash in Uttarakhand. In this awful hour, my condolences are with the deceased families: PM @narendramodi."
For Hindus, Kedarnath Dham is one of the most significant sites for pilgrimage. During the pilgrims' seasonal visits, the shrine experiences a significant number of visitors. This does not alter the fact that the shrine is situated in Uttarakhand's perilous hilly terrain at a height of 12,000 feet. Helicopter travel across dangerous terrain is the safest option. Although they are uncommon, helicopter crashes can occasionally occur due to unpredictably bad weather. However, this does not change the fact that choppers are the quickest way to the top.
Booking a helicopter at Kedarnath is an essential part of getting pilgrims to the shrine amidst the mountains.
Since there is no road leading to the temple, visitors must hike 18 kilometres uphill from Sonprayag to get there. Few people are able to visit the temple because of the distance and elevation required to get there. The Uttarakhand government consequently started offering helicopter services to the temple.
In Kedarnath, helicopter services are frequently available. Consequently, a number of aviation businesses, including Pawan Hans, Aryan Aviation, Pinnacle Air, and Heritage Aviation, among others, offer services in the area on a per-seat basis. Most businesses in employ 5-7 seater helicopters that are available for hiring. Near the shrine, they are accessible for both one-way and round-trip services.
In order to reach the Kedarnath shrine without having to walk for days, pilgrims travelling to Kedarnath Dham can take a helicopter trip. Helicopter services are available in Phata, Sersi, Sitapur, Guptkashi, Dehradun, and Delhi.
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