Bengaluru, October 30, 2026: Arun Salunke, a 2007-batch Karnataka Police Inspector serving with Bengaluru’s Central Crime Branch (CCB), was among six people killed when a private helicopter crashed near Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday afternoon. The officer was returning from a Char Dham pilgrimage with four friends from Bengaluru when the tragedy occurred.
The helicopter, operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, was travelling from Badrinath to Sahastradhara heliport in Dehradun. According to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), the aircraft, bearing registration VT-HCX, departed Badrinath at approximately 1:14 PM. It subsequently lost radio communication and stopped transmitting location data while passing through the Joshimath valley.
The helicopter reportedly crashed into a hillside near Chai village, close to the JP Power House in the Marwari area of Joshimath. The incident occurred amid adverse weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and dense cloud cover, which complicated search and rescue operations.
Following reports of the aircraft going missing, personnel from the Indian Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), local police and Chamoli district administration were mobilised. Rescue teams eventually located the wreckage and recovered the bodies of all six occupants.
The deceased were identified as Captain Himanshu Sabharwal, the pilot from Delhi, and five Bengaluru-based passengers: Police Inspector Arun Salunke, advocate Sudheer K, H.S. Nataraj, Prathapa and Shankare Gowda. The five friends had travelled to Uttarakhand earlier in the week to undertake the Char Dham pilgrimage.
Arun Salunke hailed from Aratal village in Athani taluk of Karnataka’s Belagavi district. His father and brother reside in his native village, where news of his sudden death triggered widespread grief. He lived with his wife and two children in Bengaluru’s Ramamurthy Nagar locality.
An alumnus of M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology in Bengaluru, Salunke joined police service in 2007. He began his career as an Intelligence Inspector in Delhi before serving in several important assignments in Karnataka.
During his career, he served at police stations including Nelamangala, Kunigal, Banaswadi and Halasuru, besides holding assignments in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). At the time of his death, he was posted with the special investigation division of Bengaluru’s Central Crime Branch.
Salunke was known among colleagues for his dedication to duty and approachable personality. During his tenure at Banaswadi Police Station, the station received recognition as one of Bengaluru’s best-performing police stations under a public feedback initiative.
Apart from his professional responsibilities, Salunke maintained an active interest in Kannada literature and poetry. He frequently shared his writings and appreciation for literature and cinema on social media.
His death has left family members, colleagues and residents of his native village in shock. Relatives and acquaintances described him as a hardworking and friendly officer who maintained close ties with his hometown despite his demanding responsibilities in Bengaluru.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed the helicopter crash and said he was monitoring the situation. Following the incident, aviation authorities ordered the grounding of Trans Bharat Aviation’s entire helicopter fleet as a precautionary measure.
The exact cause of the crash has not yet been officially established. Although poor weather and reduced visibility were reported in the area, investigators will need to determine the circumstances that led to the aircraft losing communication and crashing into the mountainous terrain.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns about helicopter operations in Uttarakhand’s challenging Himalayan terrain, particularly during adverse weather conditions.
For Bengaluru Police, the crash marks the sudden loss of an experienced officer who had served in several significant policing assignments over nearly two decades. Salunke’s death has left his wife, two children, extended family and colleagues mourning a life cut short during a pilgrimage.
