Headline: Seven pilgrims killed in chopper crash
Strap: Devotees were on their way back from Vaishnodevi Shrine
PTI
Katara (Jammu)
Seven people including the pilot and a newly-wed couple were killed when a chopper ferrying them back from the over 700-year-old Vaishnodevi Shrine crashed in Katra after catching fire following a suspected bird hit, in the first fatal plane accident in this holy town.
The 2010-make chopper of private airliner Himalayan Heli service, which was carrying six pilgrims from Sanjichat helipad in Trikuta hills, crashed at the new bus stand area in Katra, IGP Jammu, Danish Rana told PTI.
In the crash, seven persons including a woman pilot were killed, DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range, Surinder Gupta said.
Governor N N Vohra said according to preliminary investigation, “a vulture had hit the chopper”. He said DGCA has instituted an inquiry which will probe reasons for the crash.
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, who rushed to the accident site, said,”As per initial information, a bird got caught in the tail rotor as a result of which it stopped functioning. Finding the area below populated, the woman pilot chose a safe landing area at the new bus stand to avoid casualties on the ground.
“As the plane was descending, its rotors got entwined in electrical wires and caught fire,” he said.
Those killed included a newly wedded couple. The deceased have been identified as Pilot Sumita Vijayn from Hyderabad, Arjun Singh, Mahesh and Vandana from Jammu, Sachin, Akshita (5) and Aaryanjeet from Delhi.
He said arrangements are being made to send the bodies to Jammu and Delhi.
The Aircraft Accident Investigating Bureau is probingthe accident and a two-member team has been sent to the accident site.
The shrine is located at a height of 5,300 feet on the Trikuta Hills. Katra town is 50 Kms away from Jammu. Nearly one crore visit the shrine every year, most of the trek the 13 km distance.
There are 100 two-way flights a day to Katara to a place near the shrine and back and about 1000 people use the chooper service daily. Two planes of the Himalayan Heli service and choppers of Global Victra operate on this route, Additional CEO of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board Ajit Kumar Sahu said.
He said the passengers have a 25 lakh insurance cover. In addition the Shrine Board has announced ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh for each of those killed including the pilot.
“The next of kin of every passenger shall be given Rs 28 lakh,” Sahu said while expressing condolence to the bereaved families.
LAST PILGRIMAGE
It is suspected the helicopter crashed because it was hit by a vulture
DGCA has instituted an inquiry which will probe reasons for the crash
As per initial information the bird may have hit the tail rotor of the helicopter
The female pilot also lost her life in the crash
