NEW DELHI, May 8: A helicopter crash in the northern state of Uttarakhand on Thursday morning has claimed the lives of six people, including five female tourists. The crash occurred near the Ganganani Springs in the Uttarkashi district when the aircraft, operated by Aero Trans Services Private Limited, plunged into a gorge around 200 to 250 meters deep.

According to officials, the helicopter was en route from Dehradun to the Harsil helipad, with plans for the tourists to travel by road to Gangnani. The victims have been identified as Kala Soni (61), Vijaya Reddy (57), Ruchi Aggarwal (56), and Radha Aggarwal (79), all from Mumbai, as well as Vedavati Kumari (48) from Andhra Pradesh. The pilot, Robin Singh, a 60-year-old from Gujarat, also perished in the crash. Bhaskar, a 51-year-old passenger from Andhra Pradesh, was injured and is receiving medical treatment.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his condolences via social media, stating, "May God grant peace to the souls of those who died in the accident and give strength to the bereaved families to bear this immense loss." He also confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the crash has been ordered, and the administration is providing all necessary support to the injured.

The State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) and local authorities swiftly responded to the scene, with rescue operations underway. The District Magistrate of Uttarkashi has traveled to the site as part of the ongoing efforts. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.