All seven including the pilot on board died in a fatal chopper crash after facing a massive collision with a hill owing to low visibility in Garud Chatti near Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand.
The chopper was carrying Kedarnath pilgrims said the state authority with the SDRF team being deployed on duty as soon as news surfaced.
The seven persons have been identified as Purva Ramanuj, Kriti Barad, Urvi Barad, Sujata, Prem Kumar, Kala, and pilot Anil Singh. The rescue operation was hindered as rainfall intervened which resumed after a while amidst snowfall.
#helicopter crash #uttarakhand This is how SDRF recovered bodies from the crash site. The chopper was flying from #kedarnath to Guptkashi. The revised passanger list suggests 7 were on board pic.twitter.com/wDb4YBIamx
— Anupam Trivedi (@AnupamTrivedi26) October 18, 2022
Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Authority’s CEO, C Shankar while talking to the press over the incident informed that the weather conditions were extremely poor which was the cause behind the crash leading to the loss of 7 lives.
An investigation has been launched into the matter so as to figure out what actually led to the accident, Shankar while detailing further said the matter that, “Pilots also have to see safety aspects while flying when weather conditions or visibility conditions are bad.”
As per the orders, the authorities have also suspended entire chopper services in the state associated with similar freight services. On a separate stage, the Rudraprayag DM has launched a magisterial-level inquiry into the case.
The incident has left the entire country stunned with politicians and celebrities pouring wishes for the deceased and praying for the family of those dead.
Sending my deepest condolences to the families of the people who lost their lives in the helicopter crash today. 🙏🏻
— Sanjay Dutt (@duttsanjay) October 18, 2022
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the crash was extremely unfortunate. He added that the Centre is constantly in touch with the state government to ascertain the magnitude of the loss, and is constantly monitoring the situation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said he is anguished by the fatal accident. “In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the bereaved families,” he said.
Anguished by the helicopter crash in Uttarakhand. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the bereaved families: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 18, 2022