Kedarnath Helicopter Crash: 7 Dead Including Child and Gujarati Pilgrim, Chardham Air Services Suspended

Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand – In a tragic incident early Sunday morning, a helicopter en route from Kedarnath to Gaurikund crashed around 5:20 AM, resulting in the deaths of all seven people on board—including the pilot, a 2-year-old child, and a Gujarati devotee.

According to initial reports, poor weather conditions are believed to be the primary cause of the accident. The helicopter belonged to Aryan Aviation, a private company operating under the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA).

Casualty Details:

1. Capt. Rajbir Singh Chauhan – Pilot, Jaipur
2. Vikram Rawat – Local guide, BKTTC, Rasi, Ukhimath
3. Vinod Devi – Uttar Pradesh, 66 years
4. Trishti Singh – Uttar Pradesh, 19 years
5. Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal – Gujarat, 41 years
6. Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal – Maharashtra
7. Kashi – 2-year-old girl, Maharashtra

The helicopter caught fire after crashing, and only mangled remains were recovered. Visuals from the site show charred debris and emergency responders carrying out rescue operations.

Immediate Response:

Teams from NDRF and SDRF were immediately deployed for search and rescue. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed condolences and confirmed relief operations were in progress. He also stated that strict rules will now be enforced regarding pre-flight technical checks and mandatory weather clearance before takeoff.

Chardham Heli Services Suspended:

Following the crash, all helicopter services for the Chardham Yatra have been temporarily suspended. The government is working to revise air safety regulations to ensure safer pilgrimage journeys, especially during unpredictable weather.

Past Helicopter Incidents in Uttarakhand:

• June 7: Emergency landing in Rudraprayag; helicopter hit a car during landing due to technical failure.
• May 8: Crash in Uttarkashi near Bhagirathi River; 6 dead including mother-daughter duo from Bareilly.
• May 17: Air ambulance crash in Kedarnath; all 3 on board survived due to quick thinking by the pilot.

Officials Speak:

Rudraprayag Tourism Officer Rahul Chaubey stated, “The pilot’s awareness in prior cases prevented greater losses. However, with three major incidents in two months, air safety must be the top priority.”

This heartbreaking incident raises urgent concerns about helicopter safety in the Himalayan region. Pilgrims and families of the deceased have called for stricter oversight and improved aviation infrastructure to prevent further tragedies.