Seven individuals lost their lives in a helicopter crash early Sunday morning while transporting Char Dham pilgrims from Kedarnath. Among the victims were the pilot and a two-year-old child. The unfortunate incident occurred around 5:20 am when the Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter disappeared shortly after taking off on its way to Guptkashi, crashing near Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand.
Nilesh Bharne, Inspector General of Law and Order, reported that the crash took place at Gauri Mai Khark, roughly 5 kilometers uphill from Gaurikund. In response, rescue and relief teams were promptly deployed, including personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), who rushed to the scene to aid in recovery efforts.
The deceased have been identified as Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan from Jaipur, Vikram Rawat from Ukhimath, and Vinod Devi alongside Trishti Singh from Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal, Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal, and their two-year-old child Kashi were also among those who perished, all hailing from Maharashtra.
The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has stated that the cause of the crash remains undetermined, although preliminary reports indicate that adverse weather conditions may have influenced the incident. UCADA CEO Sonika confirmed that an investigative team was dispatched to the crash site to ascertain the underlying reasons for the tragedy.
District tourism development officer Rahul Choubey commented that the poor weather may have compelled the pilot to adjust the flight path, possibly leading to the crash.
In light of the incident, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that all available resources, including the SDRF and local administration, are being utilized for rescue and recovery operations. He expressed condolences for the victims and emphasized the need for stringent flight safety regulations. In an effort to prevent similar accidents in the future, the Chief Minister has called for the formulation of a strict Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for helicopter services within the state.
Furthermore, a high-level technical committee has been tasked with reviewing all helicopter operations and investigating the causes of recent crashes, including the one on Sunday. The committee’s responsibilities will include identifying any technical failures or negligence, as well as proposing necessary punitive actions.
This tragic event marks the third helicopter-related incident in Uttarakhand in a matter of weeks. On May 8, six individuals lost their lives in a crash near Gangnani while en route to Gangotri, and on June 7, a helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing due to technical malfunctions.
