At least seven people who were aboard a chopper that crashed in India’s Uttarakhand near the iconic Kedarnath Dham have died.
The tragedy occurred when the chopper crashed at Garud Chatti, nearly 2 km from the Kedarnath Dham shrine, reports Hindustan Times.
The helicopter - carrying pilgrims - was flying from Kedarnath to the Phata helipad.
Teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police officials were rushed to the spot.
Uttarakhand SDRF Commandant Manikant Mishra confirmed the deaths in the chopper crash, which was reported to have taken place minutes after the takeoff. Bad weather is believed to have caused the tragedy.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami has ordered a probe into the accident.
“Very sad news has been received about the casualties of some people in the unfortunate helicopter crash at Garuda Chatti near Kedarnath. The SDRF and district administration teams have reached the spot for relief and rescue work. A detailed inquiry has been ordered into this tragic incident," Pushkar Dhami tweeted.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
