7 dead in chopper crash near Kedarnath, fifth such incident in recent times

The pilot of the Aryan Aviation Helicopter crash was also killed in the crash.

During its 10-minute ride, the chopper crashed between Gaurikund and Sonprayag.

The incident took place early in the morning when the chopper took off with seven people on board - six pilgrims (five adults and a child) and a pilot, according to a statement issued by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA).

The pilgrims were from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

According to reports, technical problems and weather led to the crash.

The crash was reported after locals, who were out to collect fodder for their cattle, spotted the missing helicopter.

Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are on the way to the crash site.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami shared the "distressing" news on X (formerly Twitter). "The extremely distressing news of a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district has been received. SDRF, local administration, and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations," he wrote.

This is the fifth accident since the opening of the portals of the Himalayan temple Kedarnath on May 2.

On June 7, a helicopter on its way to Kedarnath was forced to land on a highway in Uttarakhand as it developed a technical snag during takeoff.

It came dangerously close to buildings, and its tail rotor fell on a parked car. The five pilgrims on board came out safely, while the pilot sustained minor injuries.