A helicopter carrying pilgrims from the Kedarnath shrine crashed early Sunday in the forests of Gaurikund amid poor visibility, killing all seven people on board. It is the fifth helicopter accident on the Chardham Yatra route since the pilgrimage started on April 30. The seven deceased in the Bell 407 helicopter crash included a two-year-old child and the pilot. They hailed from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The Civil Aviation Ministry said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will probe the incident, while Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also ordered a high-level inquiry.

Zero visibility

Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said that zero visibility caused by bad weather apparently led the helicopter, operated by private firm Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd, to crash between Gaurikund and Trijuginarayan in Kedarghati and catch fire.