Jammu, Nov 23 (NDTV): A helicopter carrying a group of pilgrims bound for Vaishno Devi has crashed in Jammu's Katra, killing six pilgrims and a woman pilot.

The aircraft -- which was returning from Sanjichat to Katra -- crashed soon after take-off and had caught fire. Eyewitnesses said the pilot was trying to avoid a built-up area and crashed while landing in an open space.

Initial inquiries indicated that the chopper could have crashed ostensibly due to the fog, sources said. Several flights had been unable to land at the Jammu airport this morning due to the foggy weather.

But the authorities are also looking into the possibility of mechanical failure in the aircraft.

The helicopter belonged to the privately-run Himalayan Heli Services, which also runs choppers for the Chardham Yatra.

The bodies, which have been recovered, are being identified, sources said. The pilot, Sumita Vijayan, was the chief pilot of the company.

Thousands visit Vaishno Devi, one of the major pilgrim centres of India, every day. During the recent Navratras, more than one lakh people had paid obeisance at the cave shrine.

Many of them, especially the elderly people, use the chopper service, since the cave can be accessed only after a 10-km trek.