{
  "id": 17343709,
  "title": "Chamoli Helicopter Crash: 5 Karnataka Friends On Char Dham Pilgrimage Among 6 Killed, Last Selfie Videos Emerge",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/chamoli-helicopter-crash-5-karnataka-friends-on-char-dham-pilgrimage",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T04:40:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/chamoli-helicopter-crash-5-karnataka-friends-on-char-dham-pilgrimage-among-6-killed-last-selfie-videos-emerge"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A group of five friends from Karnataka embarked on a pilgrimage to the Char Dham yatra, traveling together via helicopter from Badrinath to Dehradun on October 30. Their tragic journey came to an end when the helicopter crashed in the Chamoli district, claiming the lives of all six people on board, including the pilot. Among the passengers were Arun Salunke, Prathapa Bachihally Ningaraju, Sudheer K, Shankargowda VB and H.S. Nataraj. The pilot, Captain Himanshu Sabharwal, was a resident of Delhi. The friends were reportedly united by their shared pilgrimage. One of the passengers, Prathapa, had shared selfie videos from inside the helicopter just before the crash, capturing a moment of peace amidst the Himalayan backdrop. These videos have since emerged, offering a poignant glimpse into the group's final moments together. The crash occurred in the rugged terrain of Uttarakhand, with the aircraft losing contact over the Joshimath valley due to adverse weather conditions. The tragic incident prompted a joint rescue operation involving the Army, State Disaster Response Force and other agencies. In the aftermath, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is launching an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, and Trans Bharat Aviation has grounded its fleet as a precaution.",
  "summary": "What began as a spiritual journey shared by five friends from Karnataka ended in tragedy after the helicopter carrying them from Badrinath to Dehradun crashed in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on October 30, killing all six people on board, including the pilot. The five passengers, who were friends and had travelled together on a Char Dham pilgrimage, were identified as Arun Salunke, Prathapa…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}