Watch: Helicopter with pilgrims onboard makes emergency landing in Kedarnath
A screengrab of the helicopter making the emergency landing.
A helicopter carrying seven people, including pilgrims, made an emergency landing in Uttarakhand's Kedarnath early Friday (May 24) after it developed a technical snag. Speaking to the news agency PTI, an official said that the helicopter landed a few metres from the helipad at the Himalayan temple. The official saidthat sevenpeople- one pilot and six pilgrims- were onboard.
A video of the emergency landing showed the helicopter tail spinning just before it touched theground,as people near the helipadscrambled for cover. Everyone onboard the helicopter was safe.
The technical snag
According toRudraprayag District Magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar, the helicoptertook off from the Sirsi helipad for Kedarnath early Friday. However, thehelicopterdeveloped a technical snagin its rear motor, prompting the pilot to make an emergency landing a few metres from the helipad, as perpreliminary reports.
Gaharwar added that the pilot kept his cool and took a quick decision, averting a major mishap.
The DM also said that further investigation into the matter was underway.
(With inputs from agencies)