Crew member killed in Badrinath crash
CHOPPER MISHAP Two pilots injured, all passengers on board safe
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 Mumbaibased 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 subdivisional magistrate (SDM) will conduct the inquiry.
Meanwhile, there were reports that the helicopter lost balance due to overloading. It has been alleged that the chopper was sixseater but had eight people, including three crew members, on board.
“The DGCA gives clearance to aviation companies for providing services on specified routes,” Umakant Panwar, principal secretary, aviation, told the HT. “The state DGCA has sent a technical report, which I am yet to see. If there was overloading, then action will be taken against the service provider,” he added.
Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat condoled the death of the engineer in the mishap.
“Saddened by the news of death of an engineer of a Mumbai based chopper company in SriBadrinath ji; pilot, co-pilot & all passengers are safe,” Rawat said in a tweet. “My condolences to the family of the engineer — May God give them strength to bear this extremely unfortunate loss,” he posted.