Tragedy struck near the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand early Sunday when a helicopter crashed in the forested area above Gaurikund, killing all seven people on board, including six pilgrims and the pilot.
The crash occurred shortly after take-off around 5:30 AM as the chopper, operated by Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd, was en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi. Officials attributed the accident to poor visibility caused by bad weather in the Kedarghati region. The helicopter caught fire upon impact between Gaurikund and Trijuginarayan.
Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar confirmed the fatalities and said rescue teams are at the site.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and other agencies are actively involved in relief and rescue operations.
The crash adds to a series of recent aviation tragedies in India. Just days ago, an Air India flight to London crashed in Ahmedabad, killing 241 people. On May 8, another helicopter bound for Gangotri Dham crashed in Uttarkashi, claiming six lives. More recently, on June 7, a helicopter heading to Kedarnath made an emergency landing due to a technical glitch—injuring the pilot but sparing the five devotees onboard.
Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed investigation into Sunday’s crash, amid growing concerns over flight safety during the Char Dham Yatra season.
