Badrinath-bound chopper goes missing in Uttarakhand, 2 others join search ops

A helicopter operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, which was travelling from Badrinath to Fata in Uttarakhand, has reportedly crashed near Joshimath in Chamoli district. Six people, including the pilot, are missing, while the wreckage of the aircraft has not yet been located.

According to initial information, the helicopter is suspected to have crashed near Chayi village, behind Hathi Pahar in the Joshimath area. Two other helicopters have been deployed to trace the missing aircraft and locate its wreckage.

Persistent rainfall and dense cloud cover in the region have made it difficult for search teams to establish the helicopter's exact location.

Further details about the incident are awaited. There is no official confirmation yet about the crash or the recovery of the wreckage.

The latest incident comes after two emergency landings involving Char Dham helicopters were reported in Uttarakhand earlier in October.

One helicopter made an emergency landing in Rudraprayag due to poor weather conditions, while another was forced to land in Tehri following a technical issue.

The latest incident has once again brought attention to the challenges of helicopter operations in Uttarakhand's mountainous terrain, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall and poor visibility.- Ends