Mussoorie (Uttarakhand): Tourists seeking respite from the intense heat in the plains were caught in a moment of panic on Saturday afternoon when a snake was spotted at Kempty Falls, one of Uttarakhand’s most popular tourist destinations. The incident occurred as hundreds of visitors were bathing under the waterfall, unaware of the reptile’s presence.
Viral Video Shows Scary Scenes At Scenic Waterfall
According to reports, chaos broke out when someone noticed the snake slithering through the shallow pool beneath the falls. Screams filled the air as bathers rushed out of the water, pushing and slipping in their attempt to escape. The sudden commotion led to a stampede-like situation for a few moments.
There are no confirmed reports of any casualties in the incident. The snake later disappeared into the surroundings. Videos of the incident quickly surfaced on social media, showing scary scenes from the tourist attraction.
Deadly Helicopter Crash Kills 7, Including Infant
While no harm was reported in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand witnessed a major tragedy early Sunday morning. A helicopter carrying seven people, including an infant, from the Kedarnath shrine crashed near Gaurikund, Rudraprayag district, killing all on board.
The Bell 407 helicopter, operated by private firm Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd, had taken off from Guptkashi at 5:10 am and landed briefly at Kedarnath before heading back. It crashed minutes later in dense forest terrain between Gaurikund and Trijuginarayan due to poor visibility caused by inclement weather.
“There were five pilgrims, one child, and the pilot on board. All have died in the crash,” confirmed Nandan Singh Rajwar, District Disaster Management Officer, as quoted by PTI. The helicopter reportedly caught fire after crashing. The Civil Aviation Ministry has handed the probe to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
In response to the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) suspended the helicopter services to the Char Dham shrines, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri, as a precaution. The aviation regulator is also conducting enhanced surveillance and reviewing current operations.
