A helicopter carrying six people, including the pilot, crashed near Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday while travelling from Badrinath to Dehradun. The aircraft had initially been reported missing after losing contact while flying over the Joshimath valley.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed the crash near Chaien village, close to Joshimath. He said a joint rescue operation had been launched involving the district administration, disaster management department and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

The helicopter was operated by Trans Bharat Aviation and was carrying five passengers and one pilot. The aircraft was travelling from Badrinath to Sahastradhara in Dehradun.

Helicopter loses contact near Joshimath

According to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority, the helicopter, bearing registration number VT-HCX, took off from Badrinath at approximately 1:14 pm on Friday.

The aircraft lost communication while flying over the Joshimath valley. Its tracking system also stopped registering its location, leaving authorities unable to establish its whereabouts.

Following reports of the missing helicopter, search teams were deployed in the region. Smoke was subsequently spotted near Chaien village, raising concerns about a possible crash.

Six people were on board

According to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority, six people were travelling on the helicopter, including the pilot, Captain Himanshu.

The five passengers were identified as Prathapa, Arun, Shankar Gowda, Sudheer K and HS Natraja.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he was continuously monitoring the situation. He also directed officials to airlift seriously injured people to higher medical centres for treatment.

Army, SDRF join rescue operation

Rescue teams from the district administration, Army, police and SDRF were deployed to locate the helicopter and assist those on board.

Medical personnel were also sent to the area as authorities intensified their efforts.

The rescue operation faced difficulties due to adverse weather conditions, including rainfall and low cloud cover, which affected visibility in the mountainous region.

As a precautionary measure, the entire fleet of Trans Bharat Aviation Pvt Ltd was grounded, according to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority.

The rescue operation was underway as authorities worked to establish further details about the crash and the condition of those on board.

Delhi’s business community has appealed to senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to postpone the INDIA bloc’s proposed rally scheduled for November 1, warning that the event could disrupt commercial activity worth Rs 10,000-12,000 crore across 20 major markets in the national capital.

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has written to Sonia Gandhi, requesting that the rally at Ramlila Maidan be rescheduled until after the festive season. The traders’ body has raised concerns over the possible impact of large crowds, traffic restrictions and vehicle movement on wholesale and retail markets during the crucial Diwali shopping period.

According to the traders’ association, the rally is expected to attract around 10 lakh people and 15,000-20,000 vehicles, potentially creating significant congestion in central Delhi.

Why Delhi traders want the rally postponed

CTI chairman Brijesh Goyal has highlighted the importance of the November 1 date for businesses, as it falls just days before Dhanteras and Diwali.

Dhanteras will be observed on November 6, followed by Diwali on November 8 and Bhai Dooj on November 10. Traders generally witness increased customer activity in the days leading up to these festivals.

The association has warned that traffic restrictions, road closures and parking difficulties could affect the movement of goods and customers, potentially disrupting business across several commercial areas.

The traders’ body has specifically raised concerns about markets surrounding Ramlila Maidan, where a large number of wholesale and retail establishments operate.

20 major markets could face disruption

According to the CTI, nearly 20 major markets in Delhi could be affected by the rally because of their proximity to Ramlila Maidan.

These include Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Chawri Bazar, Khari Baoli, Bhagirath Palace, Kashmere Gate, Karol Bagh and other prominent commercial areas.

The association has pointed out that these markets attract traders and buyers from different parts of the country. Any disruption to road connectivity and transportation could affect the movement of goods as well as customer footfall.

The traders have also expressed concern about the possible impact on people travelling through Old Delhi and New Delhi railway stations, which are located near the rally venue.

Traders cite previous losses due to protests

The CTI has also referred to business disruptions caused by earlier protests and traffic restrictions in central Delhi.

According to the traders’ body, demonstrations and road closures in October had already resulted in estimated business losses of around Rs 3,000 crore.

The association has warned that a much larger gathering on November 1 could cause further disruption at a time when businesses are preparing for the festive shopping rush.

It has maintained that its appeal is not against the right to hold peaceful political demonstrations but is intended to protect traders and their livelihoods during an important business period.

The association has requested the Congress leadership to consider holding the rally after the festive season instead.

Several parts of India are likely to experience unsettled weather, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting rainfall, thunderstorms and strong winds across multiple regions.

The weather outlook comes amid changing atmospheric conditions associated with Cyclone Arnab and an approaching western disturbance. These systems are expected to influence rainfall activity across parts of northern, eastern and central India.

Rain forecast for northern India

The IMD has forecast widespread rainfall over East Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi on October 29 and 30.

Thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds are also likely in Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab. Wind speeds could reach 50-60 kmph, with gusts of up to 70 kmph, while isolated hailstorms are also possible.

Delhi is expected to experience cloudy conditions, with spells of light rain, thunderstorms and lightning. The forecast also indicates the possibility of moderate rain at isolated locations during the morning.

Eastern and central India may see heavy rain

Rainfall activity is expected across several eastern and central regions, including parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of Chhattisgarh and East Madhya Pradesh, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall possible in Chhattisgarh. Thunderstorms and gusty winds are also expected in some areas.

Gangetic West Bengal and Jharkhand are expected to receive widespread rainfall during parts of October 28-30. Odisha is also forecast to experience rainfall, while Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim may receive rain on October 29 and 30.

Rainfall expected in island regions

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are forecast to receive fairly widespread to widespread rainfall between October 28 and 31. The weather department has also warned of isolated heavy rainfall in the islands during part of this period.

Residents in affected regions should follow the latest IMD forecasts and local weather advisories, particularly where thunderstorms, strong winds or heavy rainfall are expected.