How Did 6 People Die in the Joshimath Helicopter Crash in Uttarakhand — and What Did the Final Video Show?

Six people died when a privately operated helicopter crashed near Joshimath in Uttarakhand on Friday, 30 October 2026, minutes after taking off from Badrinath. One of the passengers had filmed his final moments on board, smiling at the camera and recording the snow-covered Himalayas, and sent the videos to his family at about 1:12pm — less than two minutes before contact with the aircraft was lost.

Key facts

• What: Helicopter crash
• Where: Near Joshimath, in the Joshimath valley, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India
• When: Friday, 30 October 2026; contact lost less than two minutes after take-off; the wreckage was spotted at about 2:20pm
• Aircraft: Privately operated helicopter, call sign VT-HCX, operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, flying from Badrinath to Sahastradhara, near Dehradun
• Toll: 6 killed — five passengers from Karnataka and the pilot, who hailed from Delhi
• Investigation: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered a full investigation into the cause of the accident

What happened

The helicopter was flying from Badrinath, one of Hinduism's most hallowed pilgrimage sites, about 11,000 feet above sea level, to Sahastradhara, near Dehradun. According to Chamoli Superintendent of Police Surjit Singh Panwar, the privately operated helicopter lost contact less than two minutes after take-off while flying above the Joshimath valley.

The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) said its tracking system also stopped receiving the position of the helicopter. According to the District Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC), an Army Signal Centre team spotted the helicopter in the Hathi Parvat area, with smoke seen rising from it as it rapidly lost altitude.

The mangled remains of the aircraft were seen near Joshimath at about 2:20pm in a hamlet. All six people on board — the five passengers and the pilot — were confirmed dead.

The final videos

The last communications from the aircraft came from 41-year-old passenger Pratap Bachihalli Ningaraju, who transmitted two recordings to his family from inside the helicopter. The first video showed him smiling for the camera before take-off; the second showed a view of the snow-capped mountains as the helicopter flew on from Badrinath.

The videos were sent at roughly 1:12pm. The helicopter disappeared from view less than two minutes later. The recordings have since circulated widely as the final moments of one of the passengers before the crash.

Who was on board

All five passengers hailed from Karnataka: Pratap Bachihalli Ningaraju, Arun Salunkhe, Sudhir K, HS Nataraj and Shankargowda VB. Salunkhe, 44, was an inspector with the Bengaluru Police's Central Crime Branch. The pilot was Captain Himanshu Sabharwal, 48, who hailed from Delhi.

The passengers were travelling on the pilgrimage route from Badrinath to Sahastradhara when the aircraft went down in the Joshimath valley, a high-altitude stretch of the Himalayan region that draws large numbers of pilgrims each year.

The search and rescue response

A reconnaissance helicopter and a Retriever helicopter from UCADA conducted an airborne reconnaissance of the crash scene after the aircraft was spotted in the Hathi Parvat area. From Sahastradhara, a team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was also sent to the scene.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed condolences over the deaths and ordered a full probe into the cause of the accident. He requested the district administration to give all possible help to the relatives of the dead and to see that relief preparations were done at the earliest. He later held a review meeting and instructed officials to carry out rescue and relief operations on a war footing, using all available resources.

What happens next

A full investigation into the cause of the crash has been ordered, and officials are expected to establish why the helicopter lost contact so soon after take-off and why the tracking system stopped receiving its position. The district administration has been asked to support the families of those who died and to complete relief preparations at the earliest.

Source: Asianet Newsable, 31 October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How many people died in the Joshimath helicopter crash?

Six people died: five passengers from Karnataka and the pilot, Captain Himanshu Sabharwal, 48, from Delhi. All six were confirmed dead after the wreckage was found near Joshimath.

When did the crash happen?

The helicopter lost contact less than two minutes after taking off from Badrinath on Friday, 30 October 2026. Its wreckage was spotted near Joshimath at about 2:20pm.

Where was the helicopter flying?

It was flying from Badrinath, about 11,000 feet above sea level, to Sahastradhara, near Dehradun, when contact was lost above the Joshimath valley in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand.

What aircraft was involved?

A privately operated helicopter, call sign VT-HCX, operated by Trans Bharat Aviation.

What did the final video show?

Passenger Pratap Bachihalli Ningaraju, 41, sent his family two recordings at roughly 1:12pm: one of himself smiling at the camera before take-off, and one showing the snow-capped Himalayas from inside the helicopter.

What investigation has been ordered?

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered a full probe into the cause of the accident and instructed officials to carry out rescue and relief operations on a war footing.