A tragic helicopter crash in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand has claimed the lives of all seven people on board, officials confirmed on Sunday.
The crash occurred in Rudraprayag district, just days after a devastating India Air plane accident in Ahmedabad killed more than 270 people.
“Very sad news has been received about a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district,” Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami posted on X (formerly Twitter).
He also stated that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with local officials and rescue teams, had launched relief efforts at the crash site.
The helicopter reportedly took off at 5:20 am local time (2350 GMT) for a short 10-minute journey before crashing shortly after departure.
Authorities said the aircraft was en route from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, a popular pilgrimage route in the mountainous region.
A post-crash fire severely burned the victims, making identification difficult.
Among the passengers was a 2-year-old girl, according to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority.
Officials from the authority have dispatched a team to the crash site to determine the cause of the accident.
Indian news magazine The Week reported that local residents collecting cattle fodder came across the wreckage and alerted emergency services.
