Jammu: A pilot among six people got injured when a helicopter carrying pilgrims to the Sanjhi Chhat made crash landing in Trikuta hills of mountainous Reasi district today.
“The pilgrims this morning had a narrow escape when a chopper of Pawan Hans Company carrying them had to make a crash landing due to a technical snag erupted in one of its roaters,” a police official here told.
He said that the chopper was flying at the height of 2000 metres when a sudden fault was erupted adding, “the pilot maintained calm and sensibly made an emergency landing near Aghar Jitto area.” A S Paramjit, the pilot and a woman pilgrim Sunita Puri among six passengers were injured in the mishap.
“The copter was carrying the pilgrims to helipad at Sanjhi Chhat for performing prayers at the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi,” he added.
“The injured were shifted to the Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment from where the pilot was reportedly referred to the Chandigarh as he had suffered a spine injury,” sources said.
Deputy Commissioner Reasi Nirmal Sharma has ordered enquiry into the matter.
Pertinent to mention here that the chopper service remained suspended for two consecutive days due to dense fog.
The chopper service to Mata Vasihno Devi was introduced in the year 1988-89 and in 1989, five pilgrims including a pilot died when Pawan Hans carrying them crashed.
The service was suspended thereafter and resumed in the year 2000.
In 2008, a chopper of Himalayan Heli Service was crashed at the take off at Katra helipad in which six persons including a pilot suffered injuries.
