Dhaka, June 15 (V7N) — A tragic helicopter crash in Uttarakhand, India, has claimed the lives of seven people, including the pilot. The accident occurred around 5:20 am local time on Sunday (June 15), according to reports from NDTV and The Times of India.

The helicopter, operated by Arya Aviation, was en route from the Kedarnath temple to Guptkashi when it went down between Gaurikund and Sonprayag, roughly 10 minutes after takeoff.

Emergency response teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) quickly arrived at the crash site to conduct rescue and recovery operations.

In a statement, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) confirmed that the victims included five adults, one child, and the pilot. The passengers were reported to be residents of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.

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