In a tragic incident on Sunday morning, a helicopter en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi crashed near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district, killing all seven people on board. Among the deceased is a 23-month-old child. Following the crash, all helicopter services on the Kedarnath route have been suspended until further notice.
The chopper, operated by Aryan Aviation, crashed around 5:30 AM. Officials say the crash was likely caused by poor weather conditions. Rescue teams from NDRF and SDRF promptly reached the site. Initial reports of the crash came from local Nepali-origin women who were cutting grass in the area.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a high-level virtual meeting from the CM residence with senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, Disaster Management Secretary, UCADA CEO, and Garhwal Commissioner. He directed immediate action and review of safety protocols.
Helicopter Nodal Officer Rahul Chaubey and District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar confirmed the crash. The victims include a family from Maharashtra — a couple and their child — as well as two locals, Vinod Negi and Vikram Singh Rawat. Rawat was an employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC).
The state government has ordered a thorough investigation into the crash and reviewed existing flight safety measures along the Kedarnath pilgrimage route.
