In a dramatic incident captured on camera, a helicopter being airlifted by an Indian Air Force MI-17 chopper crashed in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath on Saturday morning. The helicopter, which had previously malfunctioned, was being transported to the Gauchar landing strip for repairs when the incident occurred.
As the MI-17 chopper flew over the Tharu camp area, the air pressure and the weight of the smaller helicopter caused the larger aircraft to lose balance. In a split-second decision, the MI-17 pilot released the dangling helicopter into a valley, carefully choosing a spot devoid of human settlements to avoid any casualties.
Fortunately, no injuries or loss of life were reported in the incident. A rescue team was quickly dispatched to the crash site to assess the situation. Rahul Chaubey, the district tourism officer, urged the public to avoid spreading rumors about fatalities or injuries.
Interestingly, this was not the first incident involving the ill-fated helicopter. On May 24, it had made an emergency landing near Kedarnath after a technical issue prevented it from landing on the helipad. The quick thinking of the pilot during that event saved the lives of seven people, including six pilgrims.
The Char Dham Yatra, which began on May 10, has brought an unprecedented influx of devotees to the region, increasing the operational pressure on air services.
