Pilot, 6 pilgrims killed in chopper crash

Devinder Thakur

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Katra, November 23

Six pilgrims and a woman pilot were today killed when a helicopter crashed near Katra, the base camp of the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir. All helicopter services to Vaishno Devi have been suspended.

The helicopter, which caught fire soon after taking off following a suspected bird hit, crashed during the eight-minute flight from Katra to Sanjhi Chhat.

Those killed included a newly wedded couple. The deceased have been identified as Pilot Sumita Vijayn from Kerala, Arjun Singh Chib, Vandana Chib and Mahesh from Jammu, Sachin, Akshita (5) and Aaryanjeet from Delhi.

According to preliminary investigation, a vulture had hit the chopper. Senior police and civil administration officers, including the district magistrate and the police chief, rushed to the spot immediately after the accident.

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy CM Nirmal Singh, who also visited the spot, said: "As per initial information, a bird got caught in the tail rotor as a result of which it stopped functioning. Finding the area below populated, the woman pilot chose a safe landing area at the new bus stand to avoid casualties on the ground.”

The chopper belonged to Himalayan Heli Service, which also operates helicopter services during the Chaar Dham pilgrimage in Uttarakhand.

Following the crash, all Katra-Vaishno Devi helicopter services were suspended sine die. The Vaishno Devi shrine board has announced a compensation of Rs 3 lakh each for the families of the deceased.