Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand: A helicopter belonging to Aryan Aviation, en route from Guptkashi to the revered Kedarnath shrine, tragically crashed today in the dense forests of Gaurikund. The ill-fated aircraft, carrying seven individuals including the pilot, met with an accident, with early reports confirming casualties. Official verification of the exact number of fatalities is currently awaited as a pall of gloom descends upon the region.
The helicopter had taken off at 5:17 AM and was on its return journey to Kedarnath after picking up passengers. However, the flight encountered severe adverse weather conditions in the Kedarnath valley, leading to a deviation from its intended course. Authorities have pointed towards the inclement weather as the primary factor behind the unfortunate incident, underscoring the inherent difficulties of aerial operations in the mountainous terrain.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conveyed his profound sorrow over the tragedy on social media platform X. “Extremely sad news has been received about the helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district. SDRF, local administration, and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations,” he posted, reaffirming the state’s dedicated efforts towards rescue and relief. Law enforcement and rescue teams have been swiftly dispatched to the remote crash site. Dr. V Murugeshan, ADG (Law and Order), confirmed that detailed information would be shared as ongoing search and rescue operations progress, reminding all of the inherent perils of flying in challenging weather conditions.
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