Uttarakhand's Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the helicopter came down near a village close to Joshimath in Chamoli district.

The local civil aviation authority later confirmed to Indian media that six bodies had been located.

Helicopter services have become increasingly popular among pilgrims seeking to avoid difficult mountain journeys, but their safety has come under scrutiny following a series of accidents.

Before Friday's crash, India's weather department had issued an orange alert for the area, warning of thunderstorms, hail and strong winds.

In June 2025, seven people were killed when a helicopter carrying pilgrims crashed near Kedarnath. Another seven died in a crash on the same pilgrimage route in October 2022.

Several other helicopter accidents were reported during the 2025 pilgrimage season, prompting aviation authorities to tighten safety checks and restrict some operations.