SDRF and other security personnel conduct a search and rescue operation at the site after a helicopter carrying six people on board, including the pilot, crashed into a hillside near Joshimath, about an hour after it took off from Badrinath on its way to Dehradun, in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand on October 30.
| Photo Credit: PTI
A helicopter carrying six persons crashed near Joshimath in Uttarakhand on Friday (October 30, 2026), killing all occupants, including the pilot. Preliminary reports suggest that bad weather may have caused the accident.
Five of the victims were pilgrims from Karnataka.
Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said the helicopter, operated by private firm Trans Bharat Aviation, was flying from Badrinath to the Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun when it crashed around 1.45 p.m.
“The wreckage was located near an Army camp above Chai village. An Army team reached the spot and confirmed the fatalities,” Mr. Kumar said. Those killed were Captain Himanshu Sabharwal from Delhi, and five pilgrims – Prathapa Bachihalliy, V.B. Shankar Gowda, Sudhir K., S.S. Nataraja and Arun Salunke.
Pratap Gowda Bachihalli, native of Sakaleshpur in Hassan district.
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Special arrangement
Prateek Jain, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), said the entire fleet of helicopters operated by Trans Bharat Aviation had been grounded as a precautionary measure. He added that the region had been experiencing snowfall and rain over the preceding few days, but helicopter operations were permitted only when weather conditions were favourable.
“Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are likely to reach Dehradun to assess the incident. A comprehensive probe will be undertaken to establish the circumstances that led to the accident. The findings will subsequently guide authorities in deciding whether shuttle and charter services can resume or continue operations for the rest of the season,” he said..
CM orders probe
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the accident. Mr. Dhami has also directed the officials concerned to conduct a detailed investigation. He also instructed the district administration to provide every possible assistance to the affected families.
Uttarakhand Congress senior vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana blamed alleged government negligence and questioned the aviation safety measures, particularly on the Char Dham pilgrimage routes. In a statement, he said 13 people died in five helicopter-related incidents in Uttarakhand over a 45-day period in 2025.
Mr. Dhasmana also cited accident data indicating that four of the eight helicopter accidents recorded in the Char Dham sector between 2015 and 2025 occurred in 2025. He demanded a judicial inquiry into Friday’s crash.
Published – October 30, 2026 03:32 pm IST
