7 killed in helicopter crash in Uttarakhand, 5th such incident in last 6 weeks

A helicopter flown by Aryan Aviation went down in the Gaurikund forest region of Uttarakhand early Sunday, resulting in the deaths of all seven individuals onboard, including the pilot. The helicopter was traveling from Guptkashi to Kedarnath Dham. This is the fifth helicopter accident in Uttarakhand within a mere six weeks.

The helicopter departed at 5:17 am for Guptkashi after collecting passengers from Kedarnath. It is said to have deviated from its path because of harsh weather in the valley. Authorities verified that limited visibility and severe weather conditions probably played a role in the accident. Search and rescue operations were quickly initiated. SDRF teams, under the leadership of Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi, were sent to the isolated crash site in the thickly wooded area. Collaborative efforts were made by the SDRF, NDRF, and local law enforcement. Among those on the doomed helicopter were pilot Rajveer, Vikram Rawat, Vinod, Trishti Singh, Rajkuma, Shraddha, and 10-year-old Rashi.

Helicopter services across the Char Dham region have been suspended until further notice.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the incident. He said, “This morning, a helicopter crashed due to bad weather. I pray to God for those who lost their lives. An emergency meeting has been called immediately, in which instructions have been given that the rules of our DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) should not be violated.

He added that pilots operating in the upper Himalayan region must have prior experience flying in these conditions and that aviation companies must ensure this requirement is met.

A critical emergency meeting took place in Dehradun to evaluate the situation surrounding the crash that happened in the Kedar Valley.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami led the meeting, accompanied by key officials such as the Chief Secretary, Secretaries of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Disaster Management representatives, along with members from the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Directorate of Information. Multiple field officers participated through video conferencing.

The gathering centered on assessing initial results, examining safety measures, and organizing a prompt reaction.

Chief Minister Dhami also instructed the Chief Secretary to establish a technical committee to thoroughly assess the safety and technical standards of helicopter operations within the state. The committee will create a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to guarantee safe, transparent, and regulation-adherent services.

Furthermore, a senior committee that is already looking into past helicopter incidents in Uttarakhand will investigate this crash as well. The panel will assess all facets of recent events, pinpoint any failures, and suggest severe measures against those deemed accountable.

The Chief Minister highlighted the significance of helicopter services in Uttarakhand for religious tours, disaster management, and emergencies, stating that guaranteeing safety in these operations will be the highest priority.