Karnataka CM DKS mourns Joshimath helicopter crash as recovery begins
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed shock over the helicopter crash near Joshimath and urged Karnataka pilgrims in the Himalayas to remain cautious.
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Saturday that the helicopter crash near Joshimath has left the state in great shock. The accident occurred while the helicopter was flying from Shri Badrinath Dham in Chamoli to Dehradun, according to The New Indian Express.
Prateek Jain, CEO of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), said an operation has been underway since morning to retrieve the bodies. Rescuers are trekking through Himalayan terrain to carry the remains to the roadhead, where they will be airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh.
Shivakumar noted that the crash particularly affects Karnataka as many devotees from the state travel to Himalayan shrines. He said the Karnataka government and authorities in Delhi are closely monitoring the developments.
The Chief Minister urged tourists still in the Himalayas to be very careful and cautious. He stated that the state has made arrangements for the return of pilgrims currently in the area.
The accident occurred as pilgrim traffic to the Char Dham shrines peaks before the temples close on the 10th.