News Desk | Rudraprayag: Tragedy struck near Kedarnath as a helicopter carrying pilgrims from the revered Himalayan shrine to Guptkashi crashed in a dense forest area on Tuesday morning, killing all seven people on board. The deceased include six pilgrims — five adults and a child — and the pilot.
The ill-fated helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation, crashed between Gaurikund and Sonprayag during what was supposed to be a brief 10-minute flight. According to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), the passengers hailed from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
Preliminary reports suggest that poor weather conditions and possible technical malfunction led to the accident. The alarm was raised by local villagers who spotted the wreckage while collecting fodder.
Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rushed to the crash site, battling difficult terrain and inclement weather.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying: “Extremely distressing news of a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district. SDRF, local administration, and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations.”
This marks the fifth helicopter-related incident in the Kedarnath region since the temple gates opened to pilgrims on May 2.
Notably, on June 7, another chopper heading to Kedarnath had a narrow escape when it was forced to make an emergency landing on a highway due to a technical snag. The aircraft came dangerously close to nearby buildings, with its tail rotor damaging a parked car. While five pilgrims escaped unhurt, the pilot sustained minor injuries.
The recurring mishaps have raised serious concerns over the safety protocols and maintenance of helicopters used for the Char Dham pilgrimage. Authorities are expected to launch a thorough investigation into the latest crash.
