Helicopter Falls Mid-Air and Crashes in Kedarnath After Towing Rope Snaps

Earlier today, a helicopter being airlifted from Kedarnath was involved in an accident when its towing rope snapped, causing the helicopter to fall from mid-air. The incident was captured on camera, but it is not yet clear if there were any injuries.

According to visuals provided by sources, the helicopter fell after the rope attached to an MI-17 chopper broke. The aircraft crashed near the Mandakini River. This helicopter, operated by a private company, had been damaged during a previous landing at Kedarnath Dham.

The accident occurred amid the ongoing Kedarnath yatra, which has been disrupted by heavy rains in Uttarakhand. The route from Gaurikund to Kedarnath, which had been closed for 26 days due to rain damage, reopened on August 26. The heavy rainfall on July 31 led to significant landslides, stranding thousands of people and prompting a major rescue operation.

During the rescue, which lasted a week and was overseen by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, over 11,000 people, including pilgrims and locals, were evacuated with the help of the IAF’s Chinook and MI-17 helicopters, as well as private choppers.