Helicopter Feared to Have Crashed in Hathi Parvat Region; CM Dhami Directs Rescue Operations on War Footing
Army, ITBP, NDRF, SDRF, police and district administration teams dispatched; two UCADA helicopters conducting aerial reconnaissance
Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government and administration have launched an emergency response following reports that a civil helicopter operated by Trans Bharat, travelling from Badrinath Dham towards Sahastradhara helipad, may have crashed in the Hathi Parvat region of Chamoli district.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami immediately took cognisance of the incident and directed officials to conduct search and rescue operations on a war footing, ensuring the deployment of all available resources.
According to preliminary information, the helicopter was carrying six people, including five passengers and one pilot. An Army Signal Centre team reportedly spotted smoke rising from the helicopter in the area and observed it rapidly descending. Following the report, the Chamoli district administration was alerted and emergency response measures were initiated.
Search and rescue teams are working to establish the exact location of the helicopter and ascertain the whereabouts of those on board.
Army, ITBP, NDRF and SDRF Teams Mobilised
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local police and district administration have been dispatched towards the suspected crash site.
Given the challenging mountainous terrain, efforts are being undertaken through both ground-based operations and aerial reconnaissance to locate the helicopter and reach the people on board.
Two helicopters operated by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) are conducting aerial reconnaissance. These include one reconnaissance helicopter and one retriever helicopter. An additional SDRF team has also been dispatched from Sahastradhara to assist in the operation.
CM Dhami and Minister Madan Kaushik Monitoring Situation
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman to obtain an update on the incident. He directed officials to ensure that rescue operations proceed without delay and that all concerned departments and agencies work in close coordination.
The Chief Minister emphasised that the safety of the passengers and the provision of immediate assistance are the government’s highest priorities. He is personally monitoring the situation and the progress of the rescue operation.
Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Madan Kaushik has also taken stock of the situation and issued necessary instructions to officials. He directed all concerned departments and rescue agencies to work with urgency and maintain effective coordination.
The government and administrative machinery are continuously reviewing the progress of the operation.
Chief Secretary and DGP Also Monitoring Developments
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Home Secretary Shailesh Bagoli and Director General of Police Deepam Seth are also closely monitoring the developments.
The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) is providing regular updates on the rescue efforts.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan said that immediate action was initiated as soon as information about the helicopter incident was received. All concerned departments and rescue agencies have been instructed to coordinate their efforts and carry out operations on a war footing.
He added that every available resource is being utilised to reach the suspected crash site at the earliest and locate the people on board.
State Emergency Operations Centre Coordinates Rescue Efforts
Lieutenant Colonel Raghuvir Singh Bhandari, Vice-Chairman of the Disaster Management Advisory Committee, and Raj Kumar Negi, Additional Chief Executive Officer (Implementation) and DIG, reached the State Emergency Operations Centre in Dehradun.
They obtained detailed information from officials and reviewed coordination among the various agencies involved in the search and rescue operation.
The SEOC is maintaining continuous communication with the Chamoli district administration, Army, ITBP, NDRF, SDRF and other concerned agencies to ensure effective coordination and timely deployment of resources.
AIIMS Rishikesh and Base Hospital Srinagar Put on Alert
Health facilities have also been placed on alert in anticipation of any medical emergency.
AIIMS Rishikesh, Base Hospital Srinagar and the concerned primary health centres have been instructed to remain prepared to provide immediate medical assistance if required.
Medical teams and essential healthcare facilities have been kept ready to ensure that any injured persons receive prompt treatment.
Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said that all concerned agencies at the state and district levels were activated immediately after the information was received.
He added that coordinated efforts are underway through both ground and aerial operations to determine the situation at the suspected crash site and locate the helicopter and its occupants.
The rescue operation is being continuously monitored in accordance with the Chief Minister’s directions, with all agencies instructed to make every possible effort to carry out search and rescue operations and provide medical assistance whenever necessary.
