
A helicopter that was being airlifted by an MI-17 chopper for repair after it malfunctioned, crashed in Uttarakhand's Kedarnath on Saturday (August 31) morning.
The helicopter was earlier trying to make an emergency landing after facing some technical fault and was later transported when the MI-17 chopper began losing balance from the helicopter's weight and wind.
News agency PTI shared visuals of the helicopter dangling mid-air before the crash.
District Tourism Officer Rahul Chaubey said that there was a plan to take the helicopter to Gauchar airstrip on Saturday, with the help of MI-17 aircraft for repair.
"As soon as it covered a little distance, the Mi-17 started losing balance due to the weight of the helicopter and wind, due to which the helicopter had to be dropped near Tharu camp. There was no passenger or luggage on the helicopter. The rescue team reached the spot as soon as the information was received. The team is inspecting the situation," the officer added.
He further confirmed that there was no passenger or luggage on the helicopter.
According to an Indian newspaper Amar Ujala, the chopper was run by a private company the same one that was involved in another incident on May 24, and made an emergency landing near Kedarnath.
During the incident, seven people, including six pilgrims were closely saved after the helicopter tried landing at the helipad in Kedarnath butfailed due to a technical issue. It later managed to make an emergency landing in an open field.
Watch |Indian air force begins rescue operations in Kedarnath
Moreover, landslides in the route from Gaurikund to Kedarnath had left thousands of people stranded, after which the administration launched a massive rescue operation aided by the Air Force's Chinook and MI17 helicopters, besides private choppers.
(With inputs from agencies)