Tragedy Strikes as Helicopter Carrying Kedarnath Pilgrims Crashes in Uttarakhand, Killing All Seven Onboard
A devastating helicopter crash early Sunday morning near Kedarnath in northern India claimed the lives of all seven people aboard, including a 23-month-old infant. The chopper, operated by Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd, was transporting Hindu pilgrims from the revered Kedarnath temple to Guptkashi in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district when it crashed around 5:30 am.
According to local authorities, the crash occurred near Gaurikund, in the densely forested Kedarghati area. Officials believe the likely cause was poor weather, which frequently presents hazardous flying conditions in the region’s mountainous terrain.
District tourism officer Rahul Chaubey stated that initial assessments point to weather-related visibility issues. The wreckage was first spotted by local women collecting grass, who saw smoke rising from the forest and immediately notified the authorities.
Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and the forest department rushed to the scene. All seven bodies were recovered from the charred remains of the helicopter.
The victims have been identified as Rajkumar Jaiswal, Shraddha Jaiswal, their daughter Kashi Jaiswal, Tushti Singh, Vinod Negi, Vikram Singh Rawat—an employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee—and Captain Rajbeer Singh Chauhan, the pilot.
Captain Chauhan, a former officer of the Indian Army, had over 15 years of flying experience, including operations in challenging and high-risk areas.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, offering prayers for the deceased and strength to their families. He confirmed that all helicopter services along the Kedarnath pilgrimage route have been suspended until further notice.
The Kedarnath temple, part of the sacred Char Dham Yatra, attracts thousands of pilgrims every year during the summer months when the high-altitude shrine becomes accessible.
This latest crash raises renewed concerns over air safety in the region. Just a few days earlier, on June 7, a Kestrel Aviation helicopter had to make an emergency landing due to a technical fault, injuring the pilot. In a similar incident in 2022, seven people died in a Kedarnath-bound helicopter crash shortly after takeoff.
Adding to India’s aviation woes, this incident comes on the heels of a major air disaster last Thursday when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad, killing over 240 people. The aircraft, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, collided with a medical college hostel, leaving only one known survivor.
