A dangerous helicopter crash near Kedarnath killed all seven individuals on board, including the pilot. The helicopter was being flown by Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd when it crashed early Sunday morning. It was traveling from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, as stated by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA).
The accident happened around 5:20 AM in the Gaurikund area, as verified by Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar. He explained that the accident happened in the forest trail above Gaurikund and emphasized the poor weather conditions, saying it occurred ‘under poor visibility due to bad weather’.
Soon after the crash, police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were sent to the site of the crash. Inspector General of Garhwal Range, Rajiv Swaroop, described the helicopter crashing in a ‘very remote area’, which made rescue operations difficult.
Although the cause of the crash has not been officially declared, sources indicate that adverse weather conditions most likely played a major role. The helicopter supposedly crashed somewhere between Trijuginarayan and Gaurikund in the Kedarghati region and subsequently burst into flames.
In reaction to the tragic news, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami decried the tragedy and assured individuals of ongoing relief work. Posting on social media site X, he said, “Extremely sad news about a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district has been received. SDRF, local administration, and other rescue teams are currently involved in relief and rescue operations.” The Chief Minister also wished prayers for the people on board, saying, “My prayers are for the safety of all travellers.”
The accident has led to worries about air operations within the region, especially under adverse weather conditions. The authorities remain on the case while rescue and recovery operations continue.
