Kedarnath: Helicopter being airlifted by Air Force chopper crashes
A helicopter, which was being airlifted by an MI-17 chopper during a recovery operation, crashed near the Mandakini River in Kedarnath Dham, Uttarakhand, on Saturday. The incident occurred when the Crystal helicopter, which had earlier been damaged during a landing at Kedarnath Dham, slipped from the Air Force MI-17 chopper and vanished into the hills. It is unclear at this time if there were any injuries resulting from this accident.
Kedarnath yatra affected by heavy rain
According to India Today, the damaged helicopter was being taken to Gauchar airstrip in Uttarakhand. The helicopter crash comes amid the ongoing Kedarnath yatra, which has been severely impacted by heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand. The trek route to the Himalayan temple was largely suspended in August due to weather conditions. Despite this, pilgrims have continued to arrive at the temple via helicopters.
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Landslides prompt massive rescue operation in Kedarnath
Rain-induced landslides along the route from Gaurikund to Kedarnath had left thousands of people stranded earlier this month. In response, a large-scale rescue operation was launched by the administration with assistance from the Air Force's Chinook and MI17 helicopters, as well as private choppers. During the Char Dham yatra in Kedarnath, choppers make 400 sorties every day on average.
