Uttarakhand Helicopter Crash: All Six People Onboard Killed in Joshimath Valley

**Joshimath, October 31, 2026:** Six people, including a pilot, were killed after a helicopter travelling from Badrinath crashed in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Friday afternoon. According to officials, the helicopter was carrying five passengers and a pilot when it crashed in the Joshimath Valley near Chayi village. The accident came to light around 2:20 pm, after the helicopter had reportedly gone missing during its journey. A search and rescue operation was subsequently launched by the authorities. **All Six Occupants Confirmed Dead** Rescue teams recovered the bodies of all six people travelling aboard the helicopter, including the pilot. The five passengers were identified as Arun Salunke, Prathapa Ningarajan, Sudeer K, HS Natraj and Shankargowda VB. They were all from Karnataka. The pilot was identified as Himanshu Sabharwal, who was operating the helicopter belonging to private aviation operator Trans Bharat Aviation. **Investigation Launched** The exact cause of the crash has not yet been established. The region had experienced heavy rainfall and dense cloud cover, while snowfall was also reported in some areas. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) initiated an investigation and sent officials to Dehradun for a preliminary regulatory assessment. Authorities also grounded the entire fleet of Trans Bharat Aviation as a precautionary measure following the accident. **Rescue Teams Deployed** Teams from the Indian Army, Chamoli district administration and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) participated in the search and rescue operation. Additional helicopters and drones were also deployed to locate the wreckage. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed the incident and said that the district administration and disaster management authorities had been directed to coordinate the response. The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.