Three Dead As Helicopter Involved In Flood Relief Efforts In Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi District Crashes

In a tragic incident in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district, a helicopter which was being flown as part of flood relief efforts has crashed, leaving all three individuals on board, namely, Pilot Rajpal, Co-pilot Shailesh and a local man Rajpal, dead, reports ANI.

Responding to the crash, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has announced Rs 15 lakh as compensation for each of the victim’s families.

According to News18, the crash happened after the helicopter became entangled with electricity wires.

In recent weeks, landslides and other rain-related occurrences have wreaked havoc in parts of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, with a number of people feared dead or missing, and widespread property damage.

Mori block in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand saw flash floods on Saturday in which at least 8 died, while 10 others remain missing. Dozens of houses suffered damage and the entire market was washed away. In the past 24 hours, Uttarakhand received rainfall 159 per cent above the normal, with Nainital topping the chart.

The National Disaster Relief Force, SDRF, Indo-Tibetan Border Police are involved in rescue operations.

Several highways, including Chandigarh-Manali highway, Manali-Leh highway, Manali-Spiti road remain blocked. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the total loss to the state property has been assessed at Rs 490 crore.