A private helicopter carrying pilgrims from Delhi back from Badrinath was compelled to make an emergency landing on Wednesday in the Chamba-Arakot area of Tehri Garhwal district due to a technical malfunction.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that seven individuals, including the pilot, were on board the aircraft. All passengers and the pilot were reported to be safe following the incident.
The helicopter, operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, was en route from the pilgrimage site of Badrinath Dham to Dehradun when a technical issue reportedly arose around 8:30 AM. The aircraft was flying over the Chamba-Arakot region when the problem was detected.
The pilot executed an emergency landing in a field in the Satyo-Saklana region, near Nawagaon. Reports indicated that the rear section of the helicopter sustained damage upon contact with a high-tension power line during the landing sequence.
Local authorities, including the tehsildar of Dhanaulti, Mohammad Shadab, confirmed the incident and stated that emergency services and police personnel were promptly dispatched to the landing site. A rescue operation was immediately initiated.
The passengers were identified as members of a single family hailing from Punjabi Bagh in Delhi. The pilot of the helicopter was identified as Anupama Chaudhary, a resident of Meerut.
Following the incident, local political figures expressed concerns regarding air safety during the pilgrimage season. Akhilesh Uniyal, a former member of the district panchayat and a local Congress leader, highlighted the potential danger posed by the emergency landing, noting that the field was operational and could have resulted in serious harm to individuals working there.
Mr. Uniyal urged the Uttarakhand government to implement stricter safety protocols. He called for mandatory and thorough technical inspections of all helicopters deployed for the Char Dham pilgrimage before each flight to prevent similar occurrences.
A detailed investigation into the exact cause of the technical glitch and the subsequent emergency landing has been initiated by the relevant aviation authorities.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
