Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], October 30 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday expressed grief over the death of six people in a helicopter crash near Joshimath in Chamoli district and directed officials to conduct a detailed investigation into the accident, while instructing the district administration to provide all possible assistance to the bereaved families.
Dhami prayed for the peace of the departed souls and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased. He directed officials to examine all aspects of the accident and ensure a detailed investigation into its causes. He also instructed the district administration to promptly arrange necessary relief and assistance for the affected families.
The helicopter, operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, was travelling from Badrinath Dham to Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun when it crashed in the Joshimath area. All six people on board, including the pilot and five passengers from Karnataka, died in the incident.
Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) Chief Executive Officer Prateek Jain told ANI that the helicopter departed from Badrinath at around 1:14 pm and crashed in the vicinity of Joshimath Valley. The aircraft was bearing call sign VT-HCX. Jain said the helicopter lost communication while passing through the valley, following which its tracking system also stopped receiving its location.
“A helicopter belonging to Trans Bharat Aviation departed from Badrinath for the Sahastradhara heliport at 1:14 PM. We have been unable to trace the helicopter’s location since it was passing through the vicinity of the Joshimath valley,” he said.
Chamoli Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh Panwar said the helicopter took off from the Badrinath civil helipad for Sahastradhara helipad at approximately 1:12 pm, with its transmission link with the radar lost near Joshimath at 1:14 pm.
In a self-made video, Panwar said two teams comprising police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Army personnel had been deployed from Pandukeshwar and Joshimath to trace the missing helicopter.
“A helicopter belonging to Trans Bharat Aviation took off from the Badrinath civil helipad, bound for the Sahastradhara helipad, today, October 30, at approximately 1:12 PM. At 1:14 PM, its transmission link with the radar was lost near Joshimath,” he said.
Personnel at a nearby Army post reported seeing the aircraft heading into the valley, approximately one kilometre above the Bhandakand Temple near Pandukeshwar. A drone was also deployed from Gopeshwar to assist in locating it.
“According to personnel at a nearby Army post, the helicopter was observed heading into the valley, about 1 kilometre above the Bhandakand Temple near Pandukeshwar,” he added.
Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Anand Swaroop had earlier said that a chartered helicopter carrying five people from Bengaluru and a pilot lost contact near Marwari, above Joshimath, at around 2 pm. He said SDRF and other relevant teams had been deployed and assistance from the Army was being sought.
“Around 2:00 PM today, a chartered helicopter—carrying five people from Bengaluru and a pilot—lost contact near Marwari, above Joshimath,” Swaroop said.
At 2:21 pm, information regarding a possible crash landing above Chai village in the Joshimath area was received from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Joshimath. Sub-Inspector Manohar Kanyal of Joshimath Post said UCADA officials had informed them that the helicopter’s location was showing near the Army Camp above Chai village. At that stage, complete details about the incident were not available.
The Chamoli district administration also reported smoke rising near Chai village, following which an administrative team was sent to the area, and an aerial search team was deployed using another helicopter.
UCADA CEO Jain said rescue teams comprising personnel from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Indian Army, SDRF and district administration were mobilised immediately. The Army team was the first to reach the crash site at around 3:30 pm.
“The Army team was the first to reach the crash site at approximately 3:30 PM. The site, identified as Chaigaon in the Joshimath tehsil of Chamoli district, confirmed the crash. Sadly, all six individuals on board—the pilot and five passengers—have died in the accident. We have gathered details: the pilot was a resident of Delhi, while the five passengers were from Bangalore,” Jain said.
Chamoli Additional District Magistrate Vivek Prakash said the helicopter crashed at a high altitude near Hathi Pahar, close to Chaini village. He said teams had reached the site and were recovering the bodies, which were to be brought down to Joshimath for post-mortem examinations.
In a self-made video, he said, “A very tragic incident occurred today in my district. A helicopter returning from Badrinath towards Sahastradhara crashed at a high altitude near ‘Hathi Pahar,’ close to Chaini village. It is a deeply saddening event; all five passengers and the pilot have tragically lost their lives. Our teams have reached the site, and they are in the process of recovering the bodies, which will then be brought down to Joshimath. We will have post-mortem examinations conducted there tomorrow.”
The Karnataka government, in a press note, confirmed that the mortal remains of all six people had been recovered. According to information received from the Uttarakhand State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), the helicopter crashed at around 2 pm in the hilly terrain of the Hathi Parvat area while travelling from Badrinath to Dehradun.
The deceased have been identified as pilot Captain Himanshu Sabharwal, a resident of Delhi, and five passengers from Karnataka – Prathap, Arun Salunke, Shankaregowda, Sudheer K and H.S. Nataraj.
Among the victims, Arun Salunke hailed from Aratala village in Athani taluk of Karnataka’s Belagavi district. A 2007-batch officer, Salunke initially served as an Intelligence Inspector in Delhi before working in Nelamangala, Kunigal and Banaswadi in Bengaluru. He was currently posted with the Central Crime Branch (CCB). His wife and two children live in Bengaluru, while his father and brother reside in Aratala village.
A relative of Arun Salunke said the family learnt about the helicopter crash between 3 pm and 3.30 pm and has since been making inquiries to gather information about the incident.
“We learned around 3:00 to 3:30 PM that a helicopter crash had occurred. We are currently making inquiries from all sides. The Army has indicated that they are currently ‘missing’—that is all we know so far. There are five people on board the helicopter. Today marks the third day since they left; they were supposed to return today,” he said.
Shankaregowda, another victim, had travelled to Dehradun with his friends four days ago. He shared a close friendship with Salunke, and the two would often travel together whenever they planned a trip. Salunke was posted in Kunigal.
In Tumakuru, Shankaregowda’s house in Saptagiri Layout wore a deserted look following news of the crash. His family members left for their native place, Koli Timmanahalli, after learning about the incident.
A neighbour of Shankaregowda, who was among those killed in the crash, said he hailed from Huliyurdurga in Kunigal and worked as a lawyer, frequently travelling to Bengaluru.
She said, “He hailed from Huliyurdurga in Kunigal and worked as a lawyer, frequently travelling to Bengaluru. Shankare Gowda was a friendly-natured person who had a good friendship with everyone and would readily respond to any problem in the area. He had immense devotion to God, fasted for nine days during Navratri, and would celebrate Ganpati and Diwali well.”
Following the crash, UCADA grounded the entire fleet of Trans Bharat Aviation Pvt. Ltd. as a precautionary measure. Jain said officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) were expected to reach Dehradun for a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Chief Minister’s Office and the Relief Commissioner are coordinating with their counterparts in Uttarakhand to facilitate the transportation of the mortal remains to Karnataka. The office of the Resident Commissioner at Karnataka Bhavan is also coordinating with Uttarakhand authorities. The state government said it would provide all possible assistance to the families of the deceased.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also expressed grief.
In a post on X, Shivakumar wrote, The tragic news that a helicopter travelling from Badrinath near Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district to Dehradun crashed while en route, resulting in the death of the Delhi-origin pilot and five passengers from Karnataka, has caused profound shock and sorrow. May the souls of Captain Himanshu, CCB Inspector Arun Salianke, Pratap B. Ningraj, Shankar Gowda V.B., Sudhir K., and H.S. Nataraju, who lost their lives in this accident, attain eternal peace. I pray that God grant strength to the bereaved families to bear this immense grief.”
He added that the state government stood in solidarity with the families of the deceased during the difficult time.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara expressed grief over the deaths and said the state government was coordinating with Uttarakhand authorities to bring the mortal remains back to Karnataka.
In a post on X, Parameshwara said, “I was deeply saddened to hear the news of the tragic helicopter crash in Uttarakhand that claimed the lives of Arun Salunke, Prathap, Shankaregowda, Sudheer K., H.S. Nataraj, and pilot Captain Himanshu. I pray that the Lord grants peace to the departed souls. I share in the grief of the bereaved families. My condolences to them.”
He added that the government was in constant touch with Uttarakhand officials and was taking necessary steps to bring back the mortal remains. He assured that all possible assistance would be provided to the families.
Karnataka Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also expressed grief over the deaths of five Kannadigas – Prathapa Bachihalli, Arun Salunke, Shankaregowda, Sudheer K and H S Nataraj – along with pilot Captain Himanshu Sabharwal.
In a post on X, Siddaramaiah wrote, “Deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash in Uttarakhand that claimed the lives of five Kannadigas – Prathapa Bachihalli, Arun Salunke, Shankaregowda, Sudheer K. and H.S. Nataraj – along with pilot Capt. Himanshu Sabharwal. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May the departed souls rest in peace, and may their loved ones find the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss.”
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed grief over the deaths and extended condolences to the bereaved families as well.
In a post on X, she said, “The news of the deaths of six people in a helicopter crash in Joshimath, Uttarakhand, is extremely heartbreaking. May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families; may the Almighty give them the strength to bear this sorrow.”
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat had earlier expressed concern when the helicopter was reported missing and stressed the need to prioritise passenger safety.
“It is very tragic. Our condolences go out to the families who have lost their loved ones. Along with making our air services competitive, we must also ensure they are safe,” Rawat said. (ANI)
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