Seven people, including a two-year-old child and the pilot, have been confirmed dead following a helicopter crash in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, according to local authorities.
The ill-fated aircraft, identified as a Bell 407 helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation (registration VT-BKA), was en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi—both significant pilgrimage destinations in the Himalayan region—when it lost contact shortly after takeoff.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported that the helicopter departed Kedarnath around 5:15 a.m. local time on Sunday. Within minutes, at approximately 5:30 a.m., aviation officials received information that the aircraft could not be located. The helicopter was later found to have crashed near Gaurikund, a location along the densely forested and mountainous pilgrimage trail.
All seven individuals on board—five passengers, one child, and the pilot—were declared dead at the scene. Rescue and recovery operations were swiftly initiated by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), with support from local police and administrative personnel. The remains of the victims have since been retrieved.
Confirming the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation stated that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been assigned to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.
Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his condolences in a post on X (formerly Twitter), describing the event as "very sad news." He affirmed that state emergency services responded promptly and that an official inquiry into the crash had been ordered.
The tragedy has cast a pall over the ongoing pilgrimage season, which annually draws thousands of devotees to the sacred Himalayan shrines.
Authorities have urged caution while reaffirming their commitment to ensuring the safety of aerial transportation along the route.