Kedarnath:

Six people, including a pilot, were killed after a helicopter carrying pilgrims crashed near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand today, officials have said.

The helicopter crashed near Garu Chatti, they said, adding that six bodies have been recovered so far and a rescue operation is underway. 

The helicopter crashed right after the takeoff from Kedarnath. A total of seven people, including a pilot, were onboard the chopper, sources say. 

Reports suggests bad weather and poor visibility caused the crash. Details are being ascertained, they said.

Visuals from the spot showed a massive plume of smoke. 

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed his anguish over the incident and said the situation is being constantly monitored.

The helicopter crash in Kedarnath is extremely unfortunate. We are in touch with the State government to ascertain the magnitude of the loss, and are constantly monitoring the situation.

— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) October 18, 2022