Helicopter carrying five pilgrims crashes near Joshimath amid poor visibility
A helicopter carrying six people, including five pilgrims, crashed near a village close to Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. Rescue teams were sent to the mountainous area, but officials had not confirmed the condition of those on board or the cause of the crash.
The helicopter reportedly left Badrinath on Friday afternoon and lost contact amid heavy rain and poor visibility. India’s weather department had issued an orange alert warning of thunderstorms, hail and strong winds. The incident renews scrutiny of helicopter safety on the Char Dham pilgrimage route, where seven people died in crashes near Kedarnath in 2025 and 2022.
In short
- Six people were aboard, including five pilgrims.
- The helicopter lost contact after leaving Badrinath.
- Rescue teams were dispatched as weather warnings were in force.
Explained simply
Badrinath is one of four major Hindu pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand’s Himalayan region, visited as part of the Char Dham pilgrimage. The high mountain routes can be difficult to travel, so some pilgrims use helicopters to reach the shrines.
Joshimath is a mountain town in Chamoli district, near routes to Badrinath. Rain, strong winds and poor visibility can make flying in this terrain more challenging, while the weather department’s orange alert signals a risk of severe conditions.
Past helicopter crashes near Kedarnath, another Char Dham shrine, have raised questions about the risks of these flights. The incident therefore matters to pilgrims, their families and the authorities responsible for safe travel in the region.
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Originally published by BBC World as “Helicopter carrying six people crashes in northern Indian state”.