Helicopter carrying six people crashes in Uttarakhand; wreckage located

A private helicopter carrying six people crashed near Joshimath in Uttarakhand at approximately 2:20 p.m. on Friday. The aircraft, transporting passengers from Bengaluru, had taken off from the Hindu pilgrimage site of Badrinath and was en route to Dehradun when it lost contact near Hathi Parvat.

Wreckage of the helicopter has been located, following the emergence of video footage showing the aircraft in flight and subsequently on the ground. Search and rescue operations are actively underway, though adverse weather conditions, including rain and snowfall, are hindering the efforts.

Amid an ongoing weather alert, local district administrations have been placed on high alert. Authorities are monitoring road conditions and temple activities, and have issued safety advisories to pilgrims travelling in the region.