Helicopter, airlifted by Mi-17 aircraft, crashes in Kedarnath | WATCH video

Uttarakhand news: A defective helicopter which was being airlifted by a Mi-17 aircraft from Kedarnath helipad to Gauchar airstrip for repair work, crashed near Tharu camp at Lincholi, Saturday morning.
The helicopter fell into the Mandakini river after the towing rope snapped. An official said no one was injured in the accident, which was caught on camera.
In a video released by the PTI, the defective helicopter can be seen falling from mid air. 
The chopper was operated by a private company. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) said that teams have been deployed in the area, and search operations are currently underway.
According to the District Tourism Officer, Rahul Chaubey, the Mi-17 aircraft had started losing balance because of the weight of the defective helicopter it was carrying, and wind flow. 
“There was a plan to take the helicopter to Gauchar airstrip on Saturday, with the help of Mi-17 aircraft, for repair. As soon as it covered a little distance, the Mi-17 started losing balance due to the weight of the helicopter and wind, due to which the helicopter had to be dropped near Tharu camp. There was no passenger or luggage on the helicopter. The rescue team reached the spot as soon as the information was received. The team is inspecting the situation,” the officer told ANI.
The helicopter was previously used for transporting passengers to the Kedarnath temple. While the trek route remained largely closed in August, pilgrims continued to reach the temple by helicopters.
The Kedarnath Yatra has witnessed a significant decline in the number of pilgrims since July 31 due to severe damage caused by heavy rains to the trek route, reported PTI.
Landslides triggered by the rain along the Gaurikund to Kedarnath path stranded thousands of people, leading to a major rescue effort involving Air Force Chinook and MI17 helicopters, along with private choppers.
A total of 183 pilgrims have died since the beginning of the Chardham Yatra in May 2024, said the State Emergency Operations Centre, reported the PTI. Of these, 177 pilgrims passed away due to health related issues, while six died due to natural disasters on the pilgrimage route.
The Chardham Yatra began this year on May 10, with the Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri temples opening to pilgrims, and the Badrinath temple’s portals opening on May 12. Till date, over 3.3 million pilgrims have visited the Himalayan temples, reported PTI.
(with inputs from agencies)