A catastrophic aviation accident in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district ended six lives on Friday afternoon, bringing unimaginable grief to multiple households. A private helicopter returning from the holy shrine of Badrinath toward Dehradun crashed in a rugged mountainous zone just minutes after takeoff. The tragic crash resulted in the immediate deaths of all six occupants, comprising five close friends from Bengaluru and the pilot from Delhi. The group of companions had undertaken the pilgrimage together and were on their homeward journey when the fatal incident occurred.
Sequence of the Flight and Recovery Operations
The tragedy took place on Friday when the helicopter, owned and operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, lifted off from the Badrinath helipad bound for the Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun at approximately 1:13 PM. Merely moments into the flight, around 1:14 PM, the aircraft encountered trouble and went down near the Pandukeshwar and Hathi Parvat terrain. The impact occurred in an unforgiving mountainous stretch, prompting an immediate mobilization of emergency resources.
Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar stated that personnel from the Indian Army were dispatched to the site as soon as word of the accident reached officials. Despite severe geographical hurdles and steep alpine terrain, army rescue units conducted an exhaustive search operation lasting well into the night, ultimately locating and recovering all six bodies from the crash site. The remains were transported to Joshimath for mandatory post-mortem formalities. Meanwhile, the Karnataka government initiated active coordination with Uttarakhand authorities to make arrangements for repatriating the bodies to their families in Bengaluru.
Karnataka Police Loses Inspector Arun Salunke
Among the passengers was Arun Salunke, a 2007-batch police officer serving as an Inspector with the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Bengaluru Police. Originally hailing from Aratala village in Belagavi district, Salunke had a distinguished career that included postings in Delhi as well as police stations in Nelamangala, Kunigal, and Banaswadi. He resided in Bengaluru with his wife and two children, while his father and brother continued to live in their ancestral village.
Having planned a short vacation to the hill state with his close circle of friends, Salunke was scheduled to return home on Friday. Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge expressed profound grief over the tragedy, observing that the sudden demise of an active CCB inspector in such an accident represents an immense and painful loss for the entire police department.
Advocate Shankar Gowda and a Cherished Friendship
Another victim was 39-year-old Shankar Gowda, a practicing advocate at the Karnataka High Court. Gowda shared an exceptionally tight bond with Inspector Arun Salunke, and the two frequently traveled together on holidays and weekend getaways. Neighbors and acquaintances remembered Gowda as an approachable, cheerful individual who actively participated in neighborhood welfare initiatives and social work. Their long-standing camaraderie saw them embark on this pilgrimage together, but neither friend could make it back alive.
Educationist HS Nataraj and Contractor Pratap Ningaraju
The crash also claimed the life of 51-year-old HS Nataraj, a native of Huliyurdurga in Tumakuru district. Nataraj was an educationist who headed the Vidya Bharati educational institution. His sudden passing has triggered deep sorrow across academic and local education circles where he was widely respected.
Alongside him was 41-year-old Pratap Ningaraju, who worked as a civil contractor. A native of Bachanahalli in the Sakleshpur taluk of Hassan district, Ningaraju had relocated to Bengaluru roughly 15 years ago to pursue professional contracting work. He lived in the Thanisandra locality with his wife and two young sons. The sudden news of his demise has left his family completely devastated.
Sudhir K. and Pilot Captain Himanshu Sabharwal
The fifth member of the close-knit group was 49-year-old Sudhir K., also a resident of Bengaluru. His loss alongside his four travel companions has turned what was meant to be a rejuvenating spiritual journey into an enduring tragedy for five interconnected families in the city.
The helicopter was being flown by Captain Himanshu Sabharwal, a Delhi resident employed by Trans Bharat Aviation. Captain Sabharwal also perished when the aircraft came down over the Hathi Parvat region.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Mourns the Tragedy
Expressing deep anguish over the loss of lives, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami shared his condolences on social media. The Chief Minister offered heartfelt sympathies to the grieving families and prayed to Lord Badri Vishal for peace to the departed souls, asking for strength for their relatives to endure this unbearable sorrow.
