Archives for May 2025

Wreckage of a helicopter which crashed near Gangnani while carrying six people to Gangotri Dham

Uttarkashi (U’khand): A helicopter on its way to the Gangotri temple crashed near Gangnani in Uttarkashi district on Thursday, killing six people, including the pilot, and leaving a man seriously injured, officials said.

Barring the pilot, who hailed from Gujarat’s Vadodara, the five other deceased were women.

The lone survivor of the crash was Maktur Bhaskar (51), a resident of Anantpur in Andhra Pradesh, Uttarkashi’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Sarita Dobhal said.

Bhaskar, who sustained serious injuries, was brought in an air ambulance from the crash site to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh for treatment. His wife, Vedanti (48), was also among the dead.

The helicopter of a private company, with seven people on board, crashed over the Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway at around 8:45 am and fell into a gorge about 200-250 metres deep, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) said.

The helicopter had left the Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun for the Kharsali helipad. It was on its way to Gangotri from there when it crashed, an official said.

District Magistrate Meharban Singh Bisht said six people died on the spot. One of the passengers on the helicopter — M Bhaskar (51) from Andhra Pradesh — was seriously injured in the crash and was airlifted to the AIIMS, Rishikesh, the DM added.

Three on board the helicopter were from Mumbai, two from Andhra Pradesh and one each was from Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

Those killed were identified as Kala Chandrakant Soni (61), Vijaya Lakshmi Reddy (57), Ruchi Agrawal (56), Radha Agrawal (79), Vedanti (48) and Captain Robin Singh (60), the pilot.

The SP said it took hours to extract the bodies from the remains of the helicopter, pull those out of the gorge and up to the road. The bodies were sent to the Uttarkashi district hospital for post mortem.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident.

The administration has been instructed to provide all possible help to the injured and investigate the accident, he said, adding that he is constantly in touch with officials and monitoring the situation.

Officials said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will probe the crash.

A Bell helicopter of AeroTrans Services Private Limited was involved in the crash.

According to information available on aviation regulator DGCA’s website, AeroTrans Services has two Bell helicopters and one Cessna aircraft.

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force has carried out fresh strikes on Pakistan’s Lahore military base, hours after its air defence systems were reportedly crippled in an earlier counteroffensive. The operation was undertaken in response to a series of coordinated drone and missile attacks launched by Pakistan on Indian military installations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Jaisalmer.

As per an India Today report, sources within the Indian security establishment confirmed that the retaliation was strategically executed, capitalising on the weakened state of Pakistan’s air defence. Earlier in the day, India’s S-400 “Sudarshan Chakra” air defence system intercepted and neutralised several incoming drones and missiles.

As per an India Today report, Pakistan’s Chinese-origin HQ-9 missile defence systems stationed in Lahore were initially targeted by Israeli-manufactured HARPY kamikaze drones, severely impairing their operational capacity. Despite these damages, Pakistan proceeded to launch further attacks on Indian bases in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur.

In response, India struck the already-damaged Lahore base and reportedly shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet, two JF-17 aircraft, and an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft within Pakistan’s Punjab province.

The Pakistani offensive extended to military targets in Awantipora, Srinagar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Bhuj. Indian defence systems successfully intercepted several projectiles, including two kamikaze drones in Poonch.

India has not yet issued an official statement.

New Delhi: Airlines have asked passengers to reach airports at least three hours before departure after the Centre increased security measures in response to Pakistan’s ongoing attack, reported India Today.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, all passengers will now face a Secondary Ladder Point Check (SLPC) before boarding. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has directed all airports and airlines to step up security.

Air India said, “Passengers are advised to arrive at least three hours prior to departure. Check-in closes 75 minutes before departure.” Akasa Air and IndiGo issued similar advisories, asking passengers to allow more time for security checks.

All passengers must carry valid photo ID and will undergo secondary checks before boarding. Visitor entry to terminals has been banned, and Air Marshals will be deployed as required.

The moves come as India’s defence systems shot down Pakistani missiles and drones in Jammu, Punjab, and Rajasthan. At least 21 airports are shut till May 10, and several flights are cancelled. Civilian aircraft are avoiding airspace over Pakistan and India’s western corridor, data from Flightradar24 shows.