Helicopter, with 6 on board, crashes in northern India

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - A helicopter carrying six people, including the pilot, crashed in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand on Friday, according to officials and media reports.

The state’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on US social media company X that the authorities have received the news of a helicopter crash near Chayee village, close to Joshimath town.

He said “a joint rescue operation is being conducted by the district administration, disaster management department," and the State Disaster Response Force.

Dhami said he is “continuously monitoring the entire incident.”

“Instructions have been given to immediately airlift the seriously injured to higher centers for better treatment,” the chief minister said.

The helicopter had gone missing amid adverse weather conditions, and six people were on board, including the pilot, state-owned Doordarshan News reported.

“Search and rescue operations are underway,” the report said.