A helicopter carrying pilgrims to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine crashed after it was hit by a vulture near Katra, leaving all six passengers on board and the woman pilot dead on Monday.
A helicopter carrying pilgrims to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine crashed after it was hit by a vulture near Katra, leaving all six passengers on board and the woman pilot dead on Monday.
The incident occurred at 12:55 pm when the helicopter took off from Katra to Sanjhichhat. Soon after take-off, the engine of the chopper caught fire, apparently due to the bird hit.
The pilot, an Indian Air Force veteran, tried hard to manoeuvre and land safely, but the chopper hit an electric pole and crashed.
“A charred carcass of the vulture has been recovered from the site. It may be assumed that the bird hit the rear side of the chopper’s rotor and it lost control. When the pilot was trying to land on the ground, the chopper hit the electric pole and wire, causing the crash,” Sujeet Kumar, senior superintendent of police, Reasi, told dna.
Five of the deceased passengers have been identified as Arjun Singh, Vandana, Sachin and Amritpal. Five-year-old Askhita was also among the dead.
The deceased pilot has been identified as Sunita Vijayn from Hyderabad. The 2010-make chopper belonged to Himalayan Heli company and was considered fit and airworthy before it crashed.
“An FIR has been lodged and an investigation has started,” said Sujeet.
Two separate inquiries have been ordered to look into the cause of the crash. “Deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Director General of Civil Aviation has also ordered a probe,” said Sujeet.
The crash has taken political overtones with National Panthers Party demanding a judicial probe.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed expressed grief over the death of the seven persons. “Mufti expressed solidarity with the families of the deceased persons and prayed to Almighty to give them courage to bear this irreparable loss,” an official spokesman said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "crashed")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}