In a tragic turn of events, an Aryan Aviation helicopter traveling from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi has tragically crashed into the forests of Gaurikund. Onboard were 7 passengers, including the pilot and a young girl. It's been confirmed that all lives were lost in the accident. The helicopter was on its return journey from Kedarnath Dham when the catastrophe occurred.
Weather Played a Role
Details indicate that around 05:17 AM, a helicopter of Aryan Company took off with 6 devotees and the pilot from Kedarnath to Guptkashi. Due to poor weather during the journey, the helicopter had to make a hard landing elsewhere, resulting in its damage and subsequent crash. Sadly, the accident claimed the lives of all involved, including the pilot Rajveer and passengers Vikram Rawat, Vinod, Trishti Singh, Rajkumar, Shraddha, and Rashi, a 10-year-old.
Source: aajtak
Adverse weather conditions, including dense fog and strong winds, caused the helicopter to lose its way before contact was lost, subsequently leading to the reported crash in the forests of Gaurikund. On receiving news of the incident, rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the scene, though the challenging weather in Kedarnath is hindering progress.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's Response
Earlier, Uttarakhand's ADG Law and Order, Dr. V. Murugesan, confirmed the crash of the helicopter lost in Gaurikund, with rescue operations ongoing and more information awaited. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also acknowledged the incident via a tweet, 'Received deeply saddening news of a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district. SDRF, local administration, and rescue teams are conducting relief efforts. Praying for the safety of all travelers.'
Source: aajtak
Fifth Helicopter Incident
Recently, another helicopter carrying pilgrims to Kedarnath had to make an emergency landing on a highway due to a technical glitch, a moment captured and shared widely on social media. Consequently, DGCA took stringent action addressing these serious safety oversights.
This crash marks the fifth helicopter incident since the Char Dham pilgrimage commenced. A previous emergency landing near the Kedarnath helipad saw two AIIMS doctors and a pilot narrowly escape harm. Authorities have now called for an extensive investigation into the repeated incidents, aiming to prevent further tragedies.
