A helicopter carrying seven Hindu pilgrims crashed early Sunday morning near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, India, killing all passengers and the pilot, officials confirmed. The aircraft, operated by Aryan Aviation, went down shortly after takeoff around 5:20 a.m. local time, en route to Guptkashi, a popular pilgrimage destination.
Initial investigations suggest that poor weather conditions, including dense fog and low visibility, likely contributed to the crash, which occurred in a densely forested area several miles off the designated route. The victims included five adults and two children, hailing from various Indian states such as Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police recovered the charred remains. Due to the condition of the bodies, DNA testing is underway to confirm identities before release to families.
This tragedy marks the fifth aviation accident in Uttarakhand during the current pilgrimage season, raising concerns about flight safety in the region’s challenging mountainous terrain. In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority have suspended all helicopter services for the Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage until further notice.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the incident and ordered a high-level inquiry to investigate the causes and enforce stricter safety protocols.
The crash comes just days after a major Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that claimed over 270 lives which was extensively reported by Dailytech, intensifying scrutiny on India’s aviation safety measures.
Authorities continue to investigate the Kedarnath helicopter crash as rescue efforts conclude and families await confirmation of their loved ones’ identities.
