The rescue operation following Friday’s helicopter crash in Chamoli district has been completed after teams recovered all 6 bodies from the remote site near Jyotirmath. The final body reached the road at 4:40 AM in the morning on Sunday, ending a 38-hour recovery effort in difficult mountain terrain.

The remains are being prepared for transport by helicopter to AIIMS Rishikesh. mortems and other legal formalities will be carried out there.

The crash site was located in a rugged mountainous area surrounded by dense forest. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, local police, fire services, the district administration and the Army worked together to recover the victims.

Recovery operation in difficult terrain

Rescuers carried the badly damaged bodies from the crash site to the road near Toli Nala. Ambulances then transported them to Jyotirmath.

The crash involved a helicopter operated by Trans Bharat Aviation. It was carrying Delhi-based pilot Captain Himanshu Sabharwal and 5 devotees from Karnataka. The passengers had visited Badrinath Dham and travelled to Mana, described as the first village of the country.

The passengers had planned to return to Dehradun on Thursday, but helicopter services were suspended because of poor weather. After conditions improved on Friday, the helicopter took off from Badrinath for Sahastradhara Heliport in Dehradun.

Its location stopped being received at about 2 in the afternoon. SDRF teams left Joshimath and Pandukeshwar at 2:24 AM in the afternoon. Wreckage was found on a mountain near Chai village at about 3 in the afternoon, and the deaths of all 6 people were confirmed at 5 in the afternoon.

Investigation examines weather and flight conditions

According to a report by The Indian Express, the helicopter had earlier completed a flight from Dehradun to Badrinath. It departed Dehradun at 12:20 PM and reached Badrinath at one:11, before leaving with 5 passengers for the return journey.

The same report said 2 helicopters had departed Badrinath before the crash and reached their destinations safely. After the crashed helicopter took off, 2 more helicopters also flew from the area. one departed 8 minutes later and the other about one hour later; both reached their destinations safely.

Officials are speaking with pilots who were flying nearby to establish the conditions around the crash. Investigators are examining whether a sudden change in local weather or another factor caused the accident.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau team has reached the crash site. It is collecting as much of the wreckage as possible to reconstruct the events before and during the crash.

Officials said the helicopter’s black box had not been found. Most of the aircraft was completely damaged, while its rear section remained comparatively intact.

Initial report and new charter-flight rule

Chamoli district administration’s initial action-taken report said the helicopter encountered bad weather in the Hathi Parvat area and crashed while descending at a low altitude. The India Meteorological Department had issued an orange alert for Chamoli on 30 October, warning of lightning, hail and strong winds of 40 to 50 km per hour in some places.

Following the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation made a new requirement for charter helicopter operations. For the remaining part of the season, charter flights must have a co-pilot. Flights with only one pilot will not be permitted.

According to Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority CEO Prateek Jain, pilots must also submit a report after each charter flight. The report will record weather conditions along the route and other relevant information for pilots operating later flights.

Conclusion

The recovery operation is complete, with all 6 bodies removed from the crash site and preparations under way for transport to AIIMS Rishikesh. The AAIB investigation, including the search for the black box and examination of wreckage and weather conditions, will determine the circumstances of the crash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How many people died in the Chamoli helicopter crash?

All 6 people on board died, including the pilot and 5 passengers.

Q. When was the rescue operation completed?

The 38-hour operation ended on Sunday morning after the final body reached the road at 4:40 AM in the morning.

Q. Where are the bodies being taken?

The remains are being prepared for transport to AIIMS Rishikesh for mortems and legal formalities.

Q. Which agencies took part in the rescue operation?

The NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, local police, fire services, district administration and Army took part in the operation.

Q. Where did the helicopter crash?

The helicopter crashed in a remote, mountainous and forested area near Jyotirmath, with wreckage found near Chai village in the Hathi Parvat area.

Q. Has the helicopter’s black box been recovered?

Officials said the black box had not been found at the time of the reported update.

Q. What weather warning had been issued for Chamoli?

The India Meteorological Department had issued an orange alert on 30 October, warning of lightning, hail and winds of 40 to 50 km per hour in some areas.

Q. What new rule applies to charter helicopter flights?

Charter helicopter flights must have a co-pilot for the remaining part of the season. Single-pilot charter operations will not be permitted.