DEHRADUN: In a narrow escape for the locals as well as pilgrims of Kedarnath route, a defective chopper of a private firm being airlifted by a MI-17 fell off mid-air and crashed near Tharu base camp in Lincholi area on Saturday.
The chopper was being airlifted from close to Kedarnath helipad and was being taken to Gauchar airstrip for the repairs when the mishap occurred around 7am.
According to officials, there were people – both pilgrims and locals at the Tharu camp, “but the alertness of the MI-17 pilot ensured that the chopper fell in an area which was at some distance from the people.”
Rudraprayag’s District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar told TOI, “No one was reported in the mishap.A single engine chopper was being carried by the MI-17 but due to strong winds and sudden change in weather conditions, the pilot started losing control. It was soon after the take off that the MI-17 started losing balance and prima facie it looks like it was because of the winds and the weight of the defective chopper.”
He added that the chopper crashed in an area near Mandakini river, where people were not present. “There were no passengers or luggage in the defective chopper.”
On May 24, this year, the chopper of the private firm had to make an emergency landing shortly before Kedarnath helipad due to some technical errors in the helicopter.
Since then the chopper had been there and on Saturday morning, it was being taken to Gauchar airstrip in Chamoli district of the Himalayan state.