At least six dead when a helicopter crashes near a shrine on a Himalayan mountain in India

NEW DELHI, Oct. 18 (DPA/EP) –

At least six people have died after a helicopter crashed on their way back from visiting a hilltop shrine in the Himalayas in northern India.

As detailed by the authorities, the helicopter was transporting the pilgrims from the Kedarnath sanctuary, a popular destination for the Hindu faithful located in the state of Uttarakhand, in northern India.

According to Abhinav Kumar, a senior government official, the six people on board the helicopter, including the pilot, have died after crashing on a hillside, where an emergency team traveled.

The General Directorate of Civil Aviation has confirmed that it is investigating what happened, although it is estimated that adverse weather conditions may have caused the accident.

The flight was operated by a private company that transports pilgrims to and from the aforementioned shrine, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and located on top of a Himalayan hill.

Pilgrims who can afford it financially prefer to ascend to the shrine by helicopter in exchange for about 4,500 rupees (55 euros) and thus avoid the 16-kilometre uphill walk that takes about five hours.