A tragic helicopter crash early Sunday morning claimed the lives of seven individuals, including pilot Retired Lt Col Rajveer Singh Chauhan and a two-year-old child. The incident occurred as the Bell 407 helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation was transporting Char Dham pilgrims from Kedarnath to Guptkashi. The aircraft went missing shortly after its departure at around 5:20 am and was later found near Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand.
Reports indicate that the crash happened at Gauri Mai Khark, approximately five kilometers uphill from Gaurikund. Local authorities swiftly mobilized rescue teams, including personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), to the crash site to aid recovery efforts.
The victims have been identified as Vikram Rawat from Ukhimath, Uttarakhand; Vinod Devi and Trishti Singh from Uttar Pradesh; and Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal, Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal, along with their two-year-old child Kashi, all hailing from Maharashtra.
The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has reported that the cause of the crash remains undetermined, although initial assessments suggest that adverse weather conditions could have been a contributing factor. UCADA’s CEO, Sonika, confirmed that an investigation team has been dispatched to the crash location to thoroughly investigate the incident.
District tourism development officer Rahul Choubey mentioned that the poor weather might have necessitated a change in the flight path, which could have led to the unfortunate accident.
In the aftermath of the disaster, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his condolences and announced that all available resources, including SDRF and local administration, have been mobilized for rescue operations. He also emphasized the urgency for stricter flight safety protocols. In light of this incident and previous helicopter accidents in the region, the Chief Minister has mandated the creation of a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for helicopter services in Uttarakhand.
Additionally, a high-level technical committee has been established to review all helicopter operations and conduct thorough investigations into the causes of recent crashes, including the tragic event on Sunday. The committee is expected to identify any technical deficiencies or negligence and recommend appropriate corrective actions.
This tragedy marks the third helicopter-related incident in Uttarakhand within a short span, following a crash on May 8 that resulted in six fatalities near Gangnani and an emergency landing of another helicopter on June 7 due to technical issues.
