Helicopter carrying six crashes near Joshimath in Uttarakhand; rescue operation underway

Mangalore Today News Network

Uttarakhand, Oct 30, 2026: A helicopter carrying six people, including five passengers and a pilot, crashed near Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday, October 30.

The helicopter, operated by private aviation company Trans Bharat Aviation, was travelling from Badrinath to Dehradun when it crashed into a hillside near the JP Power House, close to Chai village, around 2.20 pm.

Officials said rescue teams from the police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have been rushed to the spot. The district administration has launched a joint rescue operation. The status of the passengers and possible casualties is yet to be confirmed.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said in a post on X that he was closely monitoring the situation. He said instructions had been issued to airlift seriously injured persons to higher medical centres for better treatment.

It is not yet clear whether the helicopter was returning after ferrying pilgrims from the Badrinath shrine.