Watch: Helicopter Crashes Near Mandakini River During Recovery Operation In Kedarnath

A damaged helicopter crashed near the Mandakini River after slipping from an MI-17 during a recovery operation at Kedarnath Dham.

Picture source: 'X'

A helicopter, which had been damaged during a landing at Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand, slipped from an MI-17 helicopter during a recovery operation and crashed near the Mandakini River. 

A video circulating on social media shows one helicopter falling while another lifts it. The video’s authenticity has not been confirmed.

"The plan was 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," ANI quoted District Tourism Officer Rahul Chaubey. 

The KESTRAL Aircraft which was being taken underslung from #KedarNath to #Gauchar has been released midway on the river near Bhimballi#helicopter #India #BreakingNews #safefly #chardham pic.twitter.com/zDooyF7dY0 — Safe Fly Aviation (@AirCharterIndia) August 31, 2024

The SDRF team has arrived at the scene and is currently engaged in relief efforts, according to ANI. There have been no reported fatalities, and the team is actively conducting a search.

The accident, occurring between Kedarnath and Gauchar, involved a malfunctioning helicopter from Kestral Aviation being lifted by an MI-17 helicopter when it fell. There have been no reported casualties. 

Preliminary reports suggest that the helicopter fell due to a wire breakage during the lift. The incident did not result in damage to populated areas, mitigating potential harm.