Poor weather conditions are hampering rescue efforts for a helicopter carrying six people feared to have crashed in India’s Himalayan region after losing contact with ground authorities during a flight from Badrinath to Joshimath.
The aircraft, operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, was carrying five passengers and a pilot when it disappeared near the Hathi Parvat area in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district.
It reportedly took off from the Hindu pilgrimage destination of Badrinath at about 1.15pm local time amid snowfall before communication with it was lost.
The local administration has deployed another helicopter to search for the missing aircraft, while a joint rescue operation involving the district administration, disaster management department and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) is underway.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, confirmed the incident in a post on X, saying authorities had received reports of a possible crash near Chayee village, close to Joshimath.
He said arrangements had been made to ensure that anyone found seriously injured would be immediately airlifted to medical facilities for treatment.
However, the wreckage of the helicopter had yet to be located as of the latest reports, with rainfall, snowfall and poor visibility complicating the search.
The India Meteorological Department had issued a weather warning for Chamoli district, forecasting thunderstorms, hailstorms and strong winds reaching speeds of 50 kilometres per hour.
The agency also predicted rain and snowfall along the Badrinath-Joshimath route, raising concerns over flying conditions in the mountainous terrain.
Chief Executive Officer of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority, Prateek Jain, said search teams had been unable to establish the aircraft’s location after it passed through the Joshimath valley.
He was quoted by ANI news agency as saying that the entire helicopter fleet operated by Trans Bharat Aviation had been grounded as a precautionary measure.
Authorities have continued efforts to locate the aircraft and establish the fate of the six people on board.
