Helicopter carrying six people crashes in northern Indian state

What the report says

A search and rescue operation is underway in Uttarakhand, northern India, after a helicopter carrying six people crashed near a village close to Joshimath in Chamoli district, according to BBC News. The aircraft reportedly departed from Badrinath, a major Hindu pilgrimage site, on Friday afternoon before contact was lost. Officials said five of those on board were pilgrims.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said rescue teams from the district administration, disaster management department and State Disaster Response Force had been sent to the mountainous area. The condition of the passengers was not immediately clear, and the cause of the crash had not been determined. Dhami said he was monitoring the situation and had ordered that anyone seriously injured be flown for treatment.

BBC reported that the incident took place during heavy rain and poor visibility in the region, with India’s weather department issuing an orange alert for thunderstorms, hail and strong winds. Uttarakhand is home to several of Hinduism’s holiest shrines, and helicopter services are widely used by pilgrims to avoid difficult mountain travel.

The crash adds to scrutiny of helicopter safety on pilgrimage routes in the Himalayas. BBC noted that there have been several recent accidents in the region, including deadly crashes near Kedarnath in 2022 and 2025.