Uttarakhand helicopter crash: Rescue operation resumes to recover bodies of six victims from remote site

Wreckage of a private helicopter operated by Trans Bharat Aviation lying on a hillside near Chai village in the Joshimath area of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. All six people on board, including five pilgrims from Karnataka and the pilot, were killed after the aircraft crashed during inclement weather while flying from Badrinath to Dehradun. PTI

Rescue operations to retrieve the bodies of six people killed in a helicopter crash near Badrinath in Uttarakhand resumed early Saturday, with officials warning that difficult terrain and the remote location of the wreckage could hamper the recovery effort.

The operation began at 5 am but retrieving the bodies from the crash site in Chai village, near Joshimath, is expected to be challenging. The rescue effort was suspended on Friday due to darkness, the presence of wild bears and other animals, and difficult terrain.

A privately operated helicopter belonging to Trans Bharat Aviation crashed into a hillside while returning from the Badrinath shrine to Dehradun, killing all six people on board, including the pilot and five pilgrims from Karnataka. Their bodies were found near the wreckage.

The district administration said a team from the forest department was also dispatched to the crash site on Saturday morning to assist in recovering the bodies. A team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is probing the accident, is also scheduled to reach the site.

Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Saturday that orders had been issued for an investigation to establish the exact cause of the crash.

"We pray to God to grant the departed souls a place at his divine feet and give strength to their families and loved ones, who are going through immense grief and trauma during this difficult time," Dhami said.

Prateek Jain, CEO of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), told PTI that although the bodies had been located, retrieving them would be difficult due to the terrain.

"The bodies were found but the recovery is difficult due to the terrain. The mortal remains will be brought to Chamoli district headquarters via a trek and after post-mortem examination, it will be brought to Dehradun."

Asked about permission for the helicopter to fly despite an alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Jain said, "We had also issued an advisory but that is in the scope of investigation now."

Officials had said on Friday that the bodies would be taken to Joshimath town after recovery, where post-mortem examinations would be conducted on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said its team had been dispatched to Dehradun to conduct a preliminary and regulatory assessment of the accident.