A helicopter carrying pilgrims crashed in India’s Himalayan state of Uttarakhand on Friday, October 30, killing five passengers and the pilot, officials said, according to the BBC.
The aircraft reportedly departed from Badrinath, a Hindu pilgrimage destination, before contact was lost. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami placed the crash near a village outside Joshimath in Chamoli district. Local civil aviation officials subsequently told Indian media that six bodies had been found.
The BBC’s October 30 report said the cause had not been established. Heavy rain and reduced visibility had been reported in the region, and India’s weather department had issued an orange alert before the crash for thunderstorms, hail and strong winds.
Badrinath belongs to the four-site Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. Reaching the temples can involve difficult travel through steep mountain valleys, and severe winters limit their opening season. Helicopters have become an increasingly popular alternative for pilgrims.
The crash follows earlier fatal accidents on the pilgrimage route. Seven people died near Kedarnath in June 2025, and another crash killed seven in October 2022. Several accidents during the 2025 pilgrimage season led aviation authorities to strengthen safety checks and limit some operations, the BBC reported.