Srinagar: At least five people, including a woman and the pilot, were killed when a helicopter ferrying pilgrims to Amarnath crashed near Srinagar early on August 5, an official spokesman said.

The six-seater BEL 407 helicopter, which took off from Nehru helipad for Amarnath, crashed near Gund valley in the periphery of Srinagar city, the spokesman said.

Four people, including the pilot, died on the spot, while one person succumbed to injuries at the hosptial, he said. The helicopter belonged to the Jammu and Kashmir government and was making sorties to the Amarnath cave shrine, ferrying pilgrims.

The pilot has been identified as Kahlon, a retired IAF officer, who had been employed with the state government since the early '80s, the spokesman added.

PTI