A tragic helicopter crash near the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district has claimed the lives of seven people, including a 23-month-old infant. The incident occurred on Sunday morning when the helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd, was traveling from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi.
Cause of the Crash
Preliminary investigations suggest that adverse weather conditions and poor visibility contributed to the accident. The helicopter caught fire after impact, and rescue operations were immediately launched. According to officials, the chopper flew into dense fog, drastically reducing pilot visibility and contributing to a loss of control.
CM Dhami’s Response
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a high-level meeting in the wake of the helicopter crash, announce strict action against those responsible for the accident. He announced strict safety measures for helicopter operations in the state. Key directives include:
– Mandatory Technical Checks: A thorough technical check of the helicopter before every flight
– Accurate Weather Information: Obtaining accurate weather information prior to flight operations
– Experienced Pilots: Ensuring pilots flying in the upper Himalayan areas have proper experience
– Control and Command Centre: Setting up a control and command centre to oversee helicopter operations.
Victims of the Crash
The victims have been identified as:
– Rajkumar Jaiswal, a transport businessman from Maharashtra
– Shraddha Jaiswal, Rajkumar’s wife
– Kashi Jaiswal, their 2-year-old daughter
– Tushti Singh from Uttar Pradesh
– Vinod Devi from Uttar Pradesh
– Vikram Singh Rawat, an employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee
– Captain Rajveer Singh Chauhan, the pilot
Rescue Operations
Rescue operations were launched immediately after the crash, with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams deployed to the scene. The wreckage was located in a forested area above Gauri Mai Khark, and local women who were cutting grass nearby first reported the crash. The rescue operation was challenging due to the difficult and inaccessible terrain of the crash site.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will investigate the crash, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has reduced the frequency of helicopter operations to Char Dham as a precautionary measure.
