Seven Hindu pilgrims die as helicopter crashes in held Kashmir

MIRPUR: At least seven people were killed when a helicopter ferrying Hindu pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi temple crashed near Katra in the Jammu region of Indian-Occupied Kashmir on Monday.
All seven on board the helicopter to Vaishno Devi, including the pilot, were killed in the crash, says a report reaching here from across the Line of Control.
Seven people, including six Vaishno Devi pilgrims and the female pilot, died when a Himalayan helicopter crashed at Katra in the Jammu region on Monday afternoon. The deceased, according to police, hailed from Jammu and New Delhi.
The pilot was also among the dead, it said, identifying her as chief pilot-Sunita Vijayn of the Indian Hyderabad state. She was stated to be a trained pilot having carried out sorties to Amarnath shrine in Indian-occupied South Kashmir Himalayas as well.
The other deceased include Aryanjeet Singh, Rakshita and Sachin of Delhi. Arjun, Mahesh War and Vandita of Gho Manasa near Jammu.“Pointing out that the crash took place at 1.03pm, DIG for Udhampur-Reasi ranger, Surinder Gupta said that the victims were on way to the holy shrine for `darshan’.”
After taking off from the helipad near Katra town, as the chopper gained altitude towards Sanjichat, it suddenly fell down on the ground behind Central office of the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.The real cause of crash has not yet been ascertained, the report added.