A helicopter crashed near Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday, triggering a joint rescue operation by the district administration, SDRF and disaster management teams. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he was personally monitoring the situation as reports pointed to adverse weather conditions in the mountainous region.
KHABAR365 NEWS NETWORK
Joshimath/Dehradun, Oct. 30: A helicopter operating in Uttarakhand’s mountainous Chamoli district crashed near Chayee village, close to Joshimath, on Friday afternoon, triggering a large-scale rescue operation involving multiple agencies.
According to preliminary reports, the helicopter was flying in the Badrinath-Joshimath sector when the incident occurred. Teams from the district administration, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), disaster management authorities, police personnel and other emergency services were rushed to the crash site.
The accident occurred amid reports of adverse weather conditions in the region. Upper Himalayan areas of Chamoli district had been witnessing cloud cover, intermittent rainfall and reduced visibility, with weather remaining challenging through much of the day.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the incident as “unfortunate” and said a joint rescue operation was underway.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister said: “We have received the unfortunate news of a helicopter crash near Chayee village, close to Joshimath. A joint rescue operation is being conducted by the district administration, disaster management department and SDRF.”
The Chief Minister added that he was personally monitoring the situation and had directed authorities to ensure immediate medical assistance for the injured.
“I myself am continuously monitoring the entire incident. Instructions have been given to immediately airlift the seriously injured to higher centres for better treatment,” he said.
He also expressed hope for the safety of those on board, stating: “I pray to God for the safe return of the passengers.”
Officials said efforts were focused on reaching the crash location and evacuating those affected. Further details regarding the circumstances of the crash and the condition of those on board were awaited as rescue operations continued.
365 Takeaway
As rescue operations continue near Joshimath, the crash has drawn attention to reports of adverse weather conditions in the region and the challenges of flying in Uttarakhand’s mountainous terrain.