Helicopter carrying six people crashes in northern Indian state

ByZoya Mateen & Nikita Yadav BBC News, Delhi.

Key points

• Uttarakhand's Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami remarked the helicopter had crashed near a village close to Joshimath in Chamoli district.
• Badrinath is one of four sacred sites on the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, alongside Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
• In June 2025, seven individuals were killed when a helicopter carrying pilgrims crashed near Kedarnath.
• Uttarakhand, a Himalayan state which borders China and Nepal, is home to some of Hinduism's holiest shrines and attracts millions of pilgrims every year.
• Dhami remarked, external a joint rescue operation was under way involving the district administration, disaster management department and State Disaster Response Force.

For context, a search for survivors is under way after a helicopter carrying six individuals, including five pilgrims, crashed in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, office-holders say.

Uttarakhand's Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami remarked the helicopter had crashed near a village close to Joshimath in Chamoli district. Rescue teams have been dispatched to the mountainous area, but the condition of those on board remains unclear.

Meanwhile, the aircraft reportedly took off from the Hindu pilgrimage site of Badrinath on Friday afternoon before losing contact.

In practice, the cause of the crash is additionally not yet known. The incident happened against the backdrop of reports of heavy rain and poor visibility in the region.

Badrinath is one of four sacred sites on the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, alongside Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Plenty of devotees travel through steep Himalayan valleys to reach the temples. It are open for only part of the year as of harsh winter conditions.

Helicopter services have become increasingly popular among pilgrims seeking to avoid tough mountain journeys, but their safety has come under scrutiny after a series of accidents.

Friday's incident happened against the backdrop of heavy rain in the region. India's weather department had issued an orange alert for the area, warning of thunderstorms, hail and solid winds.

Dhami remarked, external a joint rescue operation was under way involving the district administration, disaster management department and State Disaster Response Force. "I am continuously monitoring the entire incident, " he continued.

Dhami additionally stated he had ordered that anyone seriously injured be airlifted for treatment.

In June 2025, seven individuals were killed when a helicopter carrying pilgrims crashed near Kedarnath. Another seven died in a crash on the same pilgrimage route in October 2022.

For context, a number of other helicopter accidents were noted during the 2025 pilgrimage season, prompting aviation authorities to tighten safety checks and restrict some operations.

For now, helicopter carrying six people crashes in northern Indian state remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.