DEHRADUN: Six people were killed on Friday after a helicopter carrying five passengers and a pilot crashed in India’s Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, officials said.
The helicopter was travelling from Badrinath, a major Hindu pilgrimage destination, when it crashed near a valley in Joshimath, according to state police.
All six people aboard the aircraft died in the incident.
Police said emergency efforts were underway to recover and transport the bodies from the remote crash site, which was difficult to access.
“Efforts are currently underway to transport the bodies from the inaccessible crash site to the nearest road,” police said in a statement.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the accident.
Uttarakhand is home to several Hindu pilgrimage sites, including Badrinath, which has a sacred temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and attracts millions of pilgrims every year.
Helicopter charter firms serve wealthy pilgrims who want to visit mountainous shrines while avoiding arduous trekking.
Weather Conditions Under Scrutiny
The crash occurred amid adverse weather concerns in the region, with India’s weather department forecasting widespread rainfall across Uttarakhand on Friday.
The warning came two days after Cyclone Arnab made landfall along India’s southeastern coast.
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However, officials have not established whether weather conditions contributed to the helicopter crash.
Uttarakhand is home to several important Hindu pilgrimage destinations, including Badrinath, which houses a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and attracts millions of pilgrims annually.
Helicopter services are commonly used by wealthier visitors seeking quicker access to mountainous religious sites, avoiding difficult and lengthy trekking routes.
Previous Aviation Accidents
The latest incident adds to a series of deadly aviation accidents involving aircraft operating in India.
In June 2025, at least seven pilgrims were killed when a helicopter crashed near Kedarnath, another major Hindu pilgrimage destination in Uttarakhand.
That same month, 260 people died when a passenger aircraft crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad, western India.
Authorities have yet to announce the findings of the investigation into Friday’s helicopter accident.
