Helicopter crash kills seven, including pilot, near Katra

Seven people were killed on Monday when a helicopter ferrying pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi temple crashed near Katra in Jammu and Kashmir, police said

Jammu: All seven people aboard a helicopter that crashed on Monday in Katra area of Reasi district have died, police said.

The Himalayan Heli Services helicopter was carrying Vaishno Devi pilgrims when it crashed at 12.55 p.m.

"The helicopter belonging to Himalayan Heli Services had taken off from Sanjhichhat helipad near the shrine. It was supposed to land at the Katra Bus Stand helipad when it crashed in the mountain area," a police official told IANS.

"All the seven people on board, including the pilot, have died."

Emergency service personnel and rescue workers gather around the wreckage of the helicopter which crashed at Katra on Monday. Pic/AFP

Those on board the helicopter have been identified as pilot Sunita Vijayan, and six pilgrims Arjun Singh, Maheshwar, Vandana, Akshita, Amritpal Singh and Sachin.

The chopper caught fire immediately on crashing on the mountainside.

Senior police and civil administration officers, including the district magistrate and the district police chief, rushed to the crash spot immediately after the news spread in the area.

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