Engineer killed, pilots hurt as copter with pilgrims crashes
DEHRADUN: A crew member was killed while two pilots suffered injuries when a helicopter carrying five pilgrims crashed while taking off from Badrinath, one of the four famed Chardham shrines, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand on Saturday. The passengers were safe. The deceased has been identified as helicopter engineer Vikram Lamba, who hailed from Assam. Chamoli police superintendent Tripti Bhatt said the incident took place at 7.35 am. The helicopter could hardly cover 100 mtrs towards Govindghat before losing balance due to insufficient air pressure and falling down. As it fell, Lamba, 35, jumped out of a window and was hit in the head by the rotor blades. He died at the spot. Pilot Sanjay Wasi, a resident of Pune in Maharashtra, complained of slight backache, while co-pilot Alka Shukla, a resident of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, suffered minor injury. The pilgrims — Jashodaben, Naveen Bhai, Leela Ben, Harish Bhai and Ramesh Bhai — were from Vadodara in Gujarat. The Agusta-119 single engine helicopter belonged to Mumbai-based private operator and was on its way from Badrinath to Haridwar. The company is providing its services on the routes for the first time, officials said.
Teams of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have rushed to the spot.
The AAIB will probe the accident, a senior DGCA official said. On direction of state chief secretary S Ramaswamy, commissioner, Garhwal, Vinod Sharma ordered a probe. A sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) will conduct the inquiry.
Saddened by the news of death of an engineer of a Mumbai based company in Sri Badrinath ji; pilot, copilot & all passengers are safe TS RAWAT, CM, on Twitter