5 Dead After Private Helicopter Crashes Near Bhagirathi River in Uttarkashi
A private chopper en route to Gangotri crashed near the Bhagirathi River in Uttarkashi on Friday morning, killing five people and injuring two others.
The crash occurred around 9 AM near Ganganani in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, officials confirmed. The helicopter, carrying seven people, was heading toward Gangotri — a key pilgrimage destination.
Two passengers sustained injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital. Local residents, police, and disaster response teams rushed to the site soon after the incident.
“Five people have been confirmed dead. The injured are receiving urgent medical attention,” said Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to the victims’ families.
“May God grant peace to the souls of those who died in the accident and give strength to the bereaved families,” he posted on X.
He added that he had instructed the administration to provide all possible help to the injured and ordered an immediate investigation. “I am constantly in touch with officials. Every situation is being monitored,” he stated.
Police personnel, army units, disaster management QRT, a 108 ambulance, local BDO officials, and revenue staff were promptly deployed to the crash location.
Rescue operations were underway as of Friday afternoon. Officials are working to recover the wreckage and determine the cause of the crash.
While the exact cause of the crash is yet to be ascertained, flying in hilly regions during unpredictable weather conditions has often posed challenges.
