Uttarakhand: 7 Killed in Chopper Crash, Heli Services Temporarily Stopped

Kedarnath Helicopter Crash Kills 7, Char Dham Services Suspended.

A helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation crashed in the forested area near Gaurikund on Sunday morning while flying from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, killing all seven people on board, including the pilot.

Victims Identified
The deceased include:

Rajveer (Pilot)

Vikram Rawat

Vinod

Trishti Singh

Rajkuma

Shraddha

Rashi, a 10-year-old girl

Officials confirmed that the helicopter took off at 5:17 am from Kedarnath and lost contact shortly after due to severe weather conditions in the valley. The aircraft went off course and crashed into the jungle terrain near Gaurikund.

Services Suspended, Investigations Ordered
In the wake of the incident, helicopter services in the Char Dham region have been suspended until further notice. The decision was jointly made by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow and directed the Chief Secretary to form a technical committee to review existing SOPs and ensure safer heli operations in the state.

“A comprehensive review of all technical and safety aspects will be undertaken. Heli services play a crucial role in pilgrimage and disaster management. Their safety is our top priority,” said CM Dhami. An existing high-level committee investigating past helicopter crashes in Uttarakhand will also examine this incident to identify lapses and suggest corrective measures. Strict action has been promised if negligence is found.

Leaders React
CM Dhami posted on X, calling the news “extremely sad” and said rescue teams including SDRF and local administration were deployed immediately.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also expressed her grief, writing:

“Another civil aviation tragedy has been reported from Uttarakhand… My prayers go out for each one on board.”