Uttarakhand chopper crash: Mortal remains of five Karnataka victims reach hometowns

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Nov 2, 2026: The mortal remains of five people from Karnataka who died in a helicopter crash near Joshimath in Uttarakhand reached their respective native places for the last rites, officials said on Monday.

The deceased were identified as Prathapa, a businessman from Hassan; Arun Salunke, an inspector with the Bengaluru Police Central Crime Branch (CCB); advocates Shankar Gowda and K. Sudheer; and H.S. Nataraj, a poultry businessman.

Their bodies arrived at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru late Sunday night and were subsequently transported to their respective hometowns.

The helicopter pilot, Captain Himanshu, also died in the crash.

The mortal remains of Inspector Salunke were taken to his native village of Aratal in Athani taluk of Belagavi district, where his last rites are scheduled to be held on Monday. He was residing in Bengaluru with his wife and two children.

Prathapa’s body was taken to his native village in Hassan district, while Sudheer’s remains reached Tyavanige village in Davanagere district, where the last rites are being performed.

The bodies of Shankar Gowda and Nataraj were taken to Huliyurdurga town in Tumakuru district.

The helicopter crashed on Friday on a hillside near Chai village in Joshimath while returning to Dehradun from the Badrinath shrine.