Kedarnath Helicopter Crash: 7 Dead, Including Retired Army Captain Rajveer Singh Chauhan, as Pilgrims' Chopper Crashes Near Gaurikund
In a tragic helicopter crash near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, seven individuals, including retired pilot Captain Rajveer Singh Chauhan and a two-year-old child, were killed early Sunday morning. The Aryan Aviation Bell 407 chopper, carrying Char Dham pilgrims from Kedarnath, went down around 5:20 am after it lost contact shortly after departing for Guptkashi.
Nilesh Bharne, IG Law and Order, reported the crash occurred at Gauri Mai Khark, approximately 5 km uphill from Gaurikund. Emergency response teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), were quickly deployed to the crash site to aid in recovery efforts.
The victims have been identified as Vikram Rawat from Ukhimath, Uttarakhand, Vinod Devi and Trishti Singh from Uttar Pradesh, and Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal, Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal, and their two-year-old child Kashi, all from Maharashtra.
The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) stated that the cause of the crash remains undetermined, although preliminary information suggests adverse weather conditions could be a factor. UCADA CEO Sonika mentioned that an investigative team has been dispatched to ascertain the cause of the incident.
Rahul Choubey, district tourism development officer, indicated that unfavorable weather might have compelled the pilot to modify the flight route, leading to the deadly crash.
In response to the incident, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that the SDRF and local authorities have been activated for rescue operations. He expressed condolences for the victims and highlighted the necessity for enhanced flight safety protocols. Subsequently, the Chief Minister has instructed the implementation of a rigorous Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for heli-services in the region.
A high-level technical committee has been appointed to assess all helicopter operations and examine the causes behind recent crashes, including the current one. The committee will focus on identifying technical errors or negligence and recommend suitable disciplinary actions.
This marks the third helicopter-related mishap in Uttarakhand in recent weeks. Previously, on May 8, a crash near Gangnani claimed six lives en route to Gangotri, and another helicopter was compelled to make an emergency landing on June 7 due to technical issues.
