New Delhi: A tragic helicopter crash near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district on Sunday claimed the lives of all seven people onboard, including the pilot and a two-year-old child. The chopper, operated by Aryan Aviation, was returning from the Kedarnath shrine to Guptkashi when it went down in flames between Gaurikund and Triyuginarayan. Following the accident, helicopter services across all four Char Dham shrines — Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri — have been suspended as a safety precaution.
Visuals from the crash site showed the helicopter engulfed in flames in an open field. Early assessments point to bad weather as the likely cause of the crash. According to sources, the chopper was permitted to fly despite poor visibility, and the pilot reportedly tried to ascend to avoid adverse conditions before losing control. The aircraft crashed shortly afterward, leaving no survivors.
Among the seven people on board were six passengers and the pilot. The victims have been identified as Vikram Rawat (45), a BKTC employee from Ukhimath, Uttarakhand; Vinod Devi (66) and Trishti Singh (19) from Uttar Pradesh; Rajkumar (41), his wife Shraddha Rajkumar (35), and their 2-year-old son Kashi from Maharashtra; and Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan, the pilot, from Jaipur. Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey confirmed the fatalities and said locals reported no signs of survival at the crash site.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy and said that the SDRF and local rescue teams were deployed immediately. “Very sad news has been received about a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district. SDRF, local administration and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. I pray to Baba Kedar for the safety of all the travellers,” he said on X (formerly Twitter).
This devastating accident comes just days after the Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad, in which 241 people died. That incident, too, involved severe tragedy, with only one survivor — a British national. The Kedarnath crash has further shaken the nation, which is already grieving the recent airline disaster. With both crashes making headlines and drawing public attention, questions are now being raised about aviation safety, particularly in high-risk areas and pilgrimage routes.
Authorities have now grounded all helicopter operations for the Char Dham Yatra until further notice. Experts and officials have emphasized the urgent need for stricter weather protocols and aviation guidelines for flights operating in mountainous terrains like Uttarakhand, where weather conditions change rapidly and visibility can be dangerously poor.
An investigation has been launched into the Kedarnath crash. Officials say that a detailed probe will be conducted to determine whether there was a lapse in judgment or system failure that led to this avoidable tragedy. With the country already reeling from back-to-back aviation disasters, the demand for accountability and systemic reform in both commercial and private aviation sectors is growing louder.
As grieving families prepare for the last rites of their loved ones, and the sacred pilgrimage route remains silent, the crash has left behind not just charred wreckage, but also deep sorrow and a renewed urgency to prioritize safety in India’s skies — especially along spiritual routes meant to offer peace and hope.
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