7 killed as helicopter crashes in India’s Uttarakhand

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least seven people were killed after an Indian helicopter crashed in Uttarakhand state, India, on Sunday.

According to India Today, the helicopter took off at 5:17 a.m. from Kedarnath, en route to Guptkashi, carrying passengers. It reportedly veered off course due to severe weather conditions in the valley.

Officials confirmed that poor visibility and harsh weather likely contributed to the crash.

Those on board the ill-fated helicopter included the pilot, Rajveer, and passengers Vikram Rawat, Vinod, Trishti Singh, Rajkuma, Shraddha, and 10-year-old Rashi.

Following the crash, helicopter services across the Char Dham region have been suspended for Sunday and Monday.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the incident.

On Thursday, about 270 people killed when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from the airport in Ahmedabad, western India.

The aircraft was en route to Gatwick Airport, south of London, and was carrying 242 people on board.

sa/ma