A VT‑HCX helicopter, registered to Trans Bharat Aviation Pvt, plunged into the Joshimath valley on a blustery afternoon, killing all six aboard.
The aircraft departed Badrinath at 1:14 PM, bound for Dehradun, but lost radio contact as it crossed the snow‑clad ravine.
The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority reported that the flight’s transponder stopped transmitting, and its last known coordinates were over the Chaien village area.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami posted on X that rescue teams from the district administration, disaster management, and the State Disaster Response Force are coordinating the operation.
Local villagers recount hearing a sudden thump as the helicopter spiraled, and a nearby shepherd witnessed the plume of smoke.
The state will convene a forensic board tomorrow to determine the cause and whether the aircraft’s maintenance records meet regulatory standards.