A tragic helicopter crash near Ganganani in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district on Thursday morning claimed the lives of five people and left two others critically injured, Indian officials confirmed.
The helicopter, which was carrying six tourists and a pilot, went down in a remote mountainous region near the Indo-China border. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
“Relief and rescue teams were dispatched immediately after receiving the alert,” said Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey. “The two injured passengers have been rushed for urgent medical care.”
Photos shared by local authorities revealed the wrecked remains of the helicopter’s interior, with blood-stained seats visible. Emergency response teams, including personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the district administration, are currently on-site carrying out recovery efforts.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami offered his condolences to the families of the victims and announced that an official probe has been launched into the incident. In a statement on social media, he said, “We have received deeply distressing news about the tragic loss of lives in the helicopter crash near Gangnani. SDRF and district teams are at the site conducting relief and rescue operations.”
The chief minister added that he is in constant communication with authorities and has instructed the administration to ensure full support and assistance to the injured.
