Breaking News: Army MI-17 Airlifted Chopper Crashes in Kedarnath, Watch Video | ABP News

On Saturday (August 31), a helicopter being transported from Kedarnath to Dehradun for repair work crashed near the Gauchar airstrip. The accident occurred while the malfunctioning helicopter was being airlifted by an MI-17 aircraft. Fortunately, there were no reports of casualties or property damage. The crash happened due to a broken towing chain during the flight, causing the helicopter to plummet and become severely damaged. Notably, this helicopter had previously experienced technical issues on May 24, 2024, which led to an emergency landing. District Tourism Officer Rahul Choubey explained that the plan was to transport the helicopter to Gauchar airstrip using the MI-17 for repairs. However, the weight of the helicopter and adverse air conditions affected the balance of the MI-17, resulting in an emergency landing near Tharu Camp. There were no passengers or cargo on board at the time. Rescue teams promptly arrived at the scene and are currently assessing the situation. Choubey also appealed to the public not to spread rumors about casualties, confirming that no injuries occurred. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) reported receiving information through the police station in Lincholi about the crash. SDRF teams are on-site conducting rescue operations and verifying that there have been no reported casualties.