J&K chopper crash: Sonia Gandhi mourns loss of lives
"Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi has expressed shock & distress at the helicopter crash on the way to Sanjhi Chhat from Katra" the Congress tweeted.
"She has extended her condolences to the families of the devotees and crew who lost their lives in this tragic incident," the party said.
Six pilgrims and a woman pilot were killed when the helicopter carrying them to Vaishno Devicrashed in Jammu and Kashmir's Katra on Monday, reports said.
The aircraft -- which was returning from Sanjichat to Katra -- crashed soon after take-off and had caught fire.
The helicopter belonged to the privately-run Himalayan Heli Services, which also runs choppers for the Chardham Yatra.
The bodies are being identified. The pilot, Sumita Vijayan, was the chief pilot of the company.
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