Helicopter crash in the Himalayas kills six people, including the pilot

A helicopter crashed in a Himalayan valley in India, killing all six people on board: five passengers and the pilot.

The aircraft had departed from Badrinath, in the northern state of Uttarakhand, while the accident occurred in the Hoshimath valley. Authorities confirmed that none of the people on board survived.

In a statement, the state police said efforts were under way to retrieve the bodies from the difficult-to-reach site and transport them to the nearest road.

The cause of the crash has not yet been disclosed by the authorities.

The India Meteorological Department had forecast rainfall across Uttarakhand, two days after Cyclone Arnab struck the country’s southeastern coast.

Uttarakhand is an important pilgrimage destination for Hindus. Badrinath is located in the state, where the sacred temple dedicated to the god Vishnu is visited by millions of pilgrims every year.

To enable travel to the mountain shrines, several companies offer charter helicopter services. These services are used mainly by pilgrims who want to avoid the difficult journey through the mountainous terrain.