Indian Air Force's cargo helicopter crashes near Kedarnath temple

New Delhi: An Indian Air Force's cargo helicopter crashed near the Kedarnath temple on Tuesday after it collided with an iron girder near the helipad here.

The MI-17 which was carrying equipment for the Army attempted to land at the helipad close to the holy temple when a part of the helicopter collided with the iron girder. The helicopter plummeted to the ground and turned upside down - reportedly injuring its six occupants.

Police and local officials quickly cordoned off the crash site and evacuated the passengers who were given first aid and sent for further medical attention. 

Last year, a tragic crash involving an MI-17 took place in Arunachal Pradesh in which seven people on board were killed. The Indian Air Force had later stated that the tail rotor of the Russian-manufactured helicopter had come off, leading to the crash.