IAF helicopter crashes while landing near Uttarakhand Kedarnath temple, all passengers safe

Kedarnath : Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter crashed while it was trying to land at a helipad near Uttarakhand Kedarnath temple. The accident took place today when the helicopter hit an iron girder. All passengers are safe and only faced minor injuries, report says.

Russian-origin Mi-17 helicopter was carrying eight people -- six passengers, the co-pilot and the pilot. The transport carrier caught fire after it collided with an iron girder while it was trying to land at a helipad. Four people including the IAF pilot suffered injuries; they are out of danger, rescuers said.

ANI, a reputed Indian news agency confirms that all passengers have been evacuated safely, and those injured are undergoing the required medical treatment.  Earlier, the agency mentioned the death of one person due to crash landing, but later corrected their report.

The fire caught in the helicopter was brought under control, though smoke continued to bulge for a while from the engine compartment of carrier.

As of now, the air force has started investigating to find out the reason behind the helicopter to collide with the iron girder that led to the crash landing.

"Today morning one Mi-17 V5 helicopter of IAF crashed near Kedarnath (Uttarakhand)... A Court of Inquiry will ascertain the cause of the accident," the IAF said in a statement.