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Travel
Helicopter crash in Chamoli kills five Bengaluru pilgrims on Char Dham tour
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 31 Oct 2026, 01:07 PM
👁 16
A helicopter carrying five friends from Bengaluru crashed in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand during a Char Dham pilgrimage, killing all on board.
A private helicopter en route to the Char Dham pilgrimage crashed in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand on Tuesday, killing five passengers, all of whom were friends from Bengaluru. The aircraft, reportedly a light utility model, was taking off from a helipad near the pilgrimage route when it lost altitude and fell into a forested area.
Rescue teams from the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority and the Indian Air Force were dispatched immediately. They recovered the wreckage and confirmed that there were no survivors. The cause of the crash is under investigation, with officials examining weather conditions and possible technical failures.
The five victims, aged between late twenties and early thirties, had embarked on the Char Dham circuit earlier this week. Their families have been notified, and a condolence ceremony is being arranged in Bengaluru. The incident has prompted calls for stricter safety checks on chartered flights operating in mountainous regions.
Authorities have temporarily suspended helicopter operations for pilgrim transport in the area pending the outcome of the inquiry. Pilgrims are advised to use alternative ground transport until safety clearances are reissued.
Rescue teams from the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority and the Indian Air Force were dispatched immediately. They recovered the wreckage and confirmed that there were no survivors. The cause of the crash is under investigation, with officials examining weather conditions and possible technical failures.
The five victims, aged between late twenties and early thirties, had embarked on the Char Dham circuit earlier this week. Their families have been notified, and a condolence ceremony is being arranged in Bengaluru. The incident has prompted calls for stricter safety checks on chartered flights operating in mountainous regions.
Authorities have temporarily suspended helicopter operations for pilgrim transport in the area pending the outcome of the inquiry. Pilgrims are advised to use alternative ground transport until safety clearances are reissued.