Rudraprayag: All seven people on board, including a 23-month-old infant and the pilot, lost their lives when a helicopter en route from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi crashed early Sunday morning in the Gaurikund area of Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district.
The chopper went down in a densely forested region near Gauri Mai Khark during its short 10-minute flight, crashing between Gaurikund and Sonprayag around 5:20 a.m.
According to a statement issued by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), the victims included six pilgrims — five adults and an infant — hailing from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
The deceased have been identified as Rajveer Singh Chauhan, who was the pilot, Rajkumar Jaiswal and Shraddha, and their two-year-old daughter, Kashi, 66-year-old Vinood Devi, 19-year-old Tushti Singh and Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Vikram Singh Rawat.
The incident has been attributed to poor visibility and adverse weather conditions, which officials say played a major role in the crash. The exact cause will be determined through a detailed investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
Rescue and relief operations are in full swing, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) making their way to the site to aid in recovery efforts.
The crash site is reported to be in a difficult-to-access forested area above Gauri Mai Khark, further complicating rescue operations.
SDRF teams are navigating through the rugged terrain to reach the exact spot.
Expressing his grief, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami posted on social media, “Very sad news has been received about a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district. SDRF, local administration and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. I pray to Baba Kedar for the safety of all the travellers.”
Helicopter services suspended for 2 days
The Uttarakhand government suspended helicopter services on the Char Dham Yatra route for two days and ordered a high-level probe into the accident.
The chief minister has ordered a high-level inquiry into the crash. Those responsible for negligence, no matter at what level, should be identified and punitive action should be initiated against them, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said.
He also directed the concerned officials to issue a strict SOP (standard operating procedure) for heli operations in the state, set up a control and command centre, and take action against those responsible for the crash.
“A common command and coordination centre will be established in Dehradun for better coordination and safe operation of helicopter services,” Dhami said.
Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the state disaster management department, Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), and companies operating heli services in the state will be part of this centre, he said.
“The weather is bad, and the safety of the pilgrims is paramount. There should not be any laxity on compliance with the DGCA norms regarding helicopter operations in the state. It should also be ensured that the pilots flying in the upper Himalayan region are experienced,” the chief minister said.
He directed the concerned officials to install more state-of-the-art weather forecasting equipment in the Himalayan region, so that accurate weather information can be obtained.
Pilot served in Indian Army for over 15 years
Rajveer Singh Chauhan, the pilot of the helicopter that crashed in Uttarakhand early Sunday, had served in the Indian Army for over 15 years and had vast experience of flying missions over different terrains.
Chauhan, 37, a resident of Jaipur’s Shastri Nagar, was working as a pilot with Aryan Aviation Private Ltd since October 2024. He was the Captain of Bell 407 helicopter that crashed near Gaurikund, killing all on board.
Having worked in the Indian Army, Chauhan had vast experience of flying missions over different terrains, overseeing aerial operations and had been trained in different types of helicopters and their maintenance, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Chauhan’s father Govind Singh said his daughter-in-law and Rajveer’s wife is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army and they became parents four months ago. “His wife gave birth to twins four months ago,” he said.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and other leaders expressed sorrow over the demise of seven people.
Recurring helicopter crashes in Uttarakhand
Helicopter crashes or emergency landings are occurring at an alarming frequency on the Chardham yatra route in Uttarakhand. The Chardham yatra involves Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri shrines.
On May 8, a helicopter going to Gangotri Dham crashed in Uttarkashi district in which six people were killed.
On June 7, a helicopter going to Kedarnath had to make an emergency landing on the road due to a technical fault soon after take-off in which the pilot was injured but the five devotees on board were rescued safely.
On May 12, a helicopter returning from Badrinath to Sersi with pilgrims on board had to make an emergency landing in a school playground in Ukhimath due to poor visibility. All pilgrims were safe.
The helicopter took off again after about an hour when the weather improved.
On May 17, a heli ambulance from AIIMS Rishikesh crash-landed near the Kedarnath helipad in Uttarakhand due to damage to its rear part. Fortunately, all three occupants on board – a doctor, a pilot, and a medical staff member – escaped unharmed.
(With inputs from agencies)
