Kedarnath, Uttarakhand
In a tragic incident early Sunday morning, a helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation crashed in the dense forests of Gaurikund, Uttarakhand, killing all seven people on board. The chopper was en route from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi when it reportedly veered off course due to poor weather conditions.
The crash marks the fifth helicopter accident in Uttarakhand in the past six weeks, raising urgent safety concerns over heli-operations in the high-altitude Char Dham region.
⚠️ Details of the Crash
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Time of takeoff: 5:17 AM from Kedarnath
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Crash site: Remote forested area near Gaurikund
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Weather conditions: Severe; poor visibility reported in the valley
All seven on board, including the pilot, died in the crash. The deceased have been identified as:
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Pilot Rajveer
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Passengers: Vikram Rawat, Vinod, Trishti Singh, Rajkuma, Shraddha, and 10-year-old Rashi
Rescue Operations
Search and rescue teams were immediately mobilised, with SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi leading operations. Joint teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local police worked in tandem to reach the crash site, which is located in a densely forested and difficult terrain.
In the wake of the crash, all helicopter services across the Char Dham region have been suspended for two days as a precautionary measure.
Chief Minister Calls for Action
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his sorrow:
“This morning, a helicopter crashed due to bad weather. I pray for those who lost their lives.”
He called an emergency high-level meeting in Dehradun to assess the situation. Top officials from the Tourism, Civil Aviation, and Disaster Management Departments, as well as DGCA and UCADA, participated. Field officers joined the discussion via video conferencing.
In a parallel development, two pilots from TransBharat Aviation were found flying under unsuitable weather conditions. Their licenses have been suspended for six months by the authorities.
Committee Formed to Review Heli-Safety
Following the incident, the Chief Minister has directed the formation of a technical committee to:
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Review existing safety and operational protocols
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Draft a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for heli-services in Uttarakhand
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Ensure transparent, regulation-compliant, and safe flight operations
Additionally, a high-level committee already investigating previous crashes will also probe this latest incident. The inquiry will examine technical lapses and recommend strict accountability.
CM Dhami underlined the significance of helicopter services for pilgrimage, disaster response, and emergency medical evacuation in remote Himalayan regions. He affirmed that safety in aviation operations will remain the government’s topmost priority.
