- India suffered another crash after a helicopter incident occurred en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi in the Himalayas
- The victims of the helicopter crash were Hinduists on a pilgrim journey
- Following the incident which claimed the lives of seven people, Indian authorities have suspended all pilgrimage flights pending investigation
Few days after the famous Air India crash which claimed the lives of over 230 people, another tragic helicopter crash in India’s northern Himalayan state of Uttarakhand has occurred, claiming the lives of seven people early Sunday morning, June 15.
The aircraft, a Bell 407 operated by private carrier Aryan Aviation, was transporting Hindu pilgrims from the temple town of Kedarnath to Guptkashi when it crashed in a forested area near Gaurikund shortly after takeoff.
All six passengers and the pilot were killed, including a 23-month-old child. The victims were part of the Char Dham pilgrimage, a sacred journey to four revered Hindu temples in the Indian Himalayas that attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees each year.
The helicopter took off at approximately 5:19 am local time and lost contact within minutes. Emergency services reached the crash site by 6am, but there were no survivors. Initial reports suggest the aircraft may have encountered low visibility and unpredictable weather conditions, both of which are common in the region, especially during early morning hours.
Among the deceased was Captain Rajveer Singh Chauhan, a former Indian Army officer and seasoned mountain pilot. He had completed multiple successful sorties earlier that morning before the fatal flight.
The Uttarakhand state government has suspended all helicopter services operating on the Kedarnath route pending a full investigation. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has grounded Aryan Aviation’s operations in the region and revoked the licenses of two additional pilots involved in similar routes.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that a high-level technical review will be conducted to assess flight safety procedures, particularly for operators flying over challenging mountainous terrain.
This is the fifth aviation-related incident in Uttarakhand in just over a month, raising broader concerns about the safety of high-frequency pilgrimage flights in remote, high-altitude environments. The Kedarnath route, in particular, is known for rapid weather changes, steep cliffs, and limited emergency landing options.
The tragedy comes just weeks after an unrelated commercial aviation disaster in western India, where an Air India Boeing 787 crashed on approach to Ahmedabad, killing over 270 people.
The Char Dham Yatra, which includes Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, draws not only Indian pilgrims but also visitors from the global Hindu diaspora. In recent years, helicopter services have become increasingly popular for older or physically limited devotees unable to endure the difficult mountain treks.
However, the increasing volume of air traffic in this sensitive region has raised questions about infrastructure readiness, operator training, and regulatory oversight.
A special committee comprising aviation regulators, technical experts, and military advisors has been appointed to investigate the cause of the crash. Authorities have recovered the flight data recorder and are analysing cockpit communications for clues.
Operations will resume only after the review committee implements stricter safety measures, including mandatory weather clearance protocols and reinforced flight standards for private operators.
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