In Summary Officials reported that a helicopter deviated from its intended path due to extreme weather conditions. All seven individuals aboard, including a 10-year-old girl, perished in the accident. Chief Minister Dhami has mandated a technical committee to assess safety regulations.
A helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation tragically crashed in the Gaurikund forest area of Uttarakhand early Sunday morning, resulting in the deaths of all seven individuals on board, including the pilot. The helicopter was en route from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi. This incident marks the fifth helicopter crash in Uttarakhand within a span of just six weeks. The helicopter departed at 5:17 am for Guptkashi after collecting passengers from Kedarnath.
It reportedly strayed off its intended course due to severe weather conditions in the valley. Officials confirmed that limited visibility and adverse weather were likely contributing factors to the crash. Search and rescue operations were initiated without delay. Teams from the SDRF, under the leadership of Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi, were sent to the remote and densely wooded crash site. Joint efforts were conducted by the SDRF, NDRF, and local law enforcement.
Those who lost their lives in the unfortunate helicopter incident included pilot Rajveer, Vikram Rawat, Vinod, Trishti Singh, Rajkuma, Shraddha, and 10-year-old Rashi. Helicopter services throughout the Char Dham region have been suspended until further notice. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his sorrow regarding the tragedy. He stated, “This morning, a helicopter crashed due to adverse weather conditions. I pray for the souls of those who have lost their lives.
An emergency meeting has been convened immediately, during which directives have been issued to ensure that the regulations of our DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) are strictly adhered to. He further emphasized that pilots operating in the upper Himalayan region must possess prior experience in flying under such conditions and that aviation companies must guarantee compliance with this requirement.
HIGH-LEVEL MEET OVER HELICOPTER CRASH
An emergency meeting of high importance was held in Dehradun to evaluate the details surrounding the crash that took place in the Kedar Valley. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who was accompanied by senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, Secretaries of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Disaster Management officials, and representatives from the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Directorate of Information.
Several field officers participated through video conferencing. The focus of the meeting was to review initial findings, assess safety protocols, and coordinate an effective response. Chief Minister Dhami also instructed the Chief Secretary to establish a technical committee tasked with a thorough review of the safety and technical protocols governing helicopter operations in the state. This committee will be responsible for drafting a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at ensuring safe, transparent, and regulation-compliant services. Furthermore, a high-level committee that is already investigating prior helicopter accidents in Uttarakhand will extend its inquiry to include this crash.
The panel will scrutinize all facets of recent incidents, pinpoint any shortcomings, and recommend stringent actions against those deemed responsible. The Chief Minister underscored the significance of helicopter services in Uttarakhand for pilgrimage, disaster management, and emergency response, asserting that the safety of these operations will be the utmost priority.
