On the morning of May 8, 2025, a tragic helicopter crash occurred in the Gangani area of Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, resulting in six fatalities and one critical injury. The private chopper, bearing registration number VT-OXF, was returning from the Yamunotri Dham pilgrimage site when it plunged into a gorge approximately 200 to 250 meters deep around 8:50 AM.
Among the deceased were five female pilgrims: Kala Soni (61), Vijaya Reddy (57), and Ruchi Aggarwal (56) from Mumbai; Radha Aggarwal (79) from Uttar Pradesh; and Vedavati Kumari (48) from Andhra Pradesh. The pilot, Captain Robin Singh (60) from Gujarat, also perished in the crash. The sole survivor, Bhaskar (51) from Andhra Pradesh, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh for treatment.
Upon receiving the alert, teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police promptly initiated search and rescue operations in the challenging terrain. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims and directed the local administration to provide all possible assistance to the injured. He has also ordered a thorough probe into the incident to ascertain the cause and prevent future occurrences.
