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A helicopter being airlifted from Kedarnath in Uttarakhand to Gauchar by an MI-17 chopper crashed near the Mandakini River after the towing rope snapped. The incident, which was caught on camera, thankfully resulted in no injuries. The helicopter, operated by a private company, was previously used for ferrying passengers to the Kedarnath temple.
The crash occurred as the helicopter was being towed from the Shri Kedarnath helipad to the Gochar helipad. The State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) rescue team received information from the police in Lincholi about the incident and immediately dispatched a team to the crash site. Relief efforts are currently underway.
The accident highlights the challenges faced during rescue and transportation operations in the mountainous region of Kedarnath. The area has been experiencing heavy rainfall and landslides, causing disruptions to the trek route to the Himalayan temple and leading to a significant drop in the number of pilgrims visiting the site.
Following the heavy rainfall and landslides in July, the administration launched a massive rescue operation to assist stranded pilgrims. The operation utilized helicopters, including those operated by the Air Force and private companies. While the trek route to Kedarnath remained largely suspended in August, pilgrims could still reach the temple by helicopter.
The Chardham Yatra, which includes visits to Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Badrinath temples, began on May 10th. Over 33 lakh pilgrims have visited these Himalayan temples so far. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety protocols during airlifting operations, especially in challenging terrain conditions.
Source: Helicopter, Being Airlifted By MI-17 Chopper, Crashes In Kedarnath