India, June 15 -- A chopper carrying six pilgrims from Kedarnath crashed near Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district early Sunday morning, police said. Rescue operations are underway.

Sources said that five people may have died in the crash.

The Aryan Aviation chopper took off from the Kedarnath helipad around 5 am and went "missing" after authorities lost signal with it.

"There were seven people on board, including the pilot, five passengers and an infant," district tourism officer Rahul Chaubey, who is also the nodal officer for chopper service in Rudraprayag, said. He did not comment on casualties.

"The chopper was returning from Kedarnath Dham to its base in Guptkashi when it encountered sudden adverse weather conditions in the valley....