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| Helicopter crashes in Katra, seven killed including lady Pilot | | |  Early Times Report
Katra, Nov 23: An ill-fated helicopter carrying a group of Vaishno Devi pilgrims today crashed today in Katra near new Bus Stand near Tea garden, Katra in which seven onboard personas including lady pilot were killed.
"Seven people, including a woman pilot, a newly-wed couple from Jammu and a minor (5) from new Delhi were killed when a chopper ferrying them back from Vaishno Devi shrine crashed at Katra after catching fire following a suspected bird hit in the first fatal plane accident in this holy town, police sources said.
Police sources confirmed among those killed included a newly-wed couple from Jammu and the deceased have been identified as Pilot Sumita Vijayn from Hyderabad, newly-wed Arjun Singh, his wife Vandana and Mahesh from Jammu, Sachin, Akshita (5) and Aaryanjeet from Delhi. Sources said that the helicopter belonged to the privately-run Himalayan Heli Services was taking off after returning from Sanjhichhat to Katra and met with mishap. Meanwhile some locals added that a bird was spotted at the time of crash falling along with the chopper and this could be the reason behind the crash. Soon after the crash the officials from civil, police and Shrine Board rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. "The chopper of private airliner Himalayan Heli Service Pvt Ltd carrying six pilgrims from Sanjichhat helipad in Trikuta Hills, crashed at the new bus stand area in Katra this afternoon," IGP Jammu Danish Rana said.
Meantime DC Reasi, Sushma Chouhan who also was supervising the operations on the spot said, " An enquiry has been initiated in this regard to find out the reason behind the crash. "let the enquiry report to come to reveal the exact reason of the crash, " she added. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) Ajit Kumar Sahu 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," he said adding, "the next of kin of every passenger shall be given Rs 28 lakh," He also has extended deep condolences to the bereaved families.
A separate magisterial probe has been ordered by the J and K government into the accident. Reasi District Magistrate Sushma Chauhan will head the probe, the Deputy CM said after holding a meeting of top officials here.
Meantime Wanhchuk Shamshu, director of the Himalayan Heli service, ruled out bad weather being a cause for the accident. "Today, the weather was fine and hence not an issue". "It is up to the regulatory authority to find out as to what exactly happened. Thereafter, if there are any misgivings on the part of the operator or anyone else, corrective measures will be taken," he said. |
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