Rudraprayag, June 15, 2025 – A terrible helicopter crash near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand has left the country in shock. Seven people, including five pilgrims, a two-year-old girl, and the pilot, died when their helicopter crashed near Gaurikund early Sunday morning. The crash happened because of thick fog that made it hard to see. This is the fifth helicopter accident in just 40 days during the Char Dham Yatra, a holy pilgrimage to Kedarnath and other shrines. People are sad and asking for better safety rules.
What Happened?
The helicopter, run by Aryan Aviation, was a Bell 407 carrying passengers from Kedarnath to Guptkashi, a short 37-km trip. It took off at 5:00 AM but crashed near Gaurikund at 5:20 AM. Onboard were a family from Yavatmal, Maharashtra—Rajkumar Jaiswal, his wife Shraddha, and their daughter Kashi—along with a young girl named Tripti Singh, a temple worker, and the pilot, Captain Rajiv. Thick fog made it impossible for the pilot to see, and the helicopter fell into a forest area.
Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rushed to the spot, but all seven people were found dead. The crash site was hard to reach because of the forest and bad weather. Pictures shared by @uksdrf on X showed rescue workers searching through smoke and broken parts of the helicopter.
A Big Loss for the Char Dham Yatra
The Char Dham Yatra is a special pilgrimage where people visit Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri, holy places in the Himalayas. Kedarnath is a sacred temple for Lord Shiva, and many people, especially older ones, use helicopters to reach it because it’s high up at 3,584 meters. But this crash has made everyone worried about how safe these helicopter rides are.
This isn’t the first accident this year. Since the yatra started on April 30, there have been four other helicopter problems. On May 8, six people died in a crash near Gangotri. On May 12 and May 17, helicopters had to make emergency landings, but no one was hurt. On June 7, another helicopter landed on a highway after a problem, damaging a car but saving its passengers. This latest crash, with no survivors, is the worst yet.
What’s Being Done?
The Uttarakhand government stopped all helicopter services for June 15 and 16 to figure out what went wrong. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held an urgent meeting and ordered a big investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). He said only well-trained pilots should fly these risky routes. The government also took away Aryan Aviation’s permission to fly and is checking other companies. A case has been filed against the company for not following safety rules.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called CM Dhami to share his sadness and promise help. On X, he wrote, “My heart is with the families who lost loved ones in the Kedarnath crash. We are with Uttarakhand.” Rescue teams were thanked for their hard work, with @ANI sharing photos of them at the crash site.
The families of the victims are very upset. A relative from Maharashtra asked, “Why are helicopters flying in bad weather?” People on X are angry too, with one user, @Ravisutanjani, posting, “7 lives gone in Kedarnath. When will we make this safe?”
Why Do These Crashes Keep Happening?
Flying in Kedarnath is tough because of the mountains and changing weather. An expert, Govind Nair, told Onmanorama that 2025 has had a lot of fog and strong winds, making it hard for pilots. Kedarnath doesn’t have a proper control tower like big airports, so pilots follow strict rules. But some companies aren’t following them, like flying when it’s too foggy. The June 7 crash happened because of a stuck control, and this crash might also be because of a machine problem or the weather. The government is now planning to watch helicopters more closely and set up a control room.
What People Are Saying
On X, people are sharing their sadness and worry. A user from Dehradun wrote, “Another crash in Kedarnath? This is so sad. We need better safety!” Another said, “Pilgrims trust these helicopters. Why are they not safe?” After the big Air India crash in Ahmedabad that killed 241 people, many are asking if India’s helicopters and planes are safe enough.
Some pilgrims are now choosing to walk or drive to Kedarnath instead of flying, but these ways are hard, especially for older people. News18 says more people are looking for trekking guides, but helicopters are still important for many.
Looking Ahead
This crash is a big warning about safety in the Char Dham Yatra. The investigation will check the weather rules, pilot training, and helicopter conditions. For now, helicopter rides are stopped, giving time to make things safer. But for the families of Rajkumar, Shraddha, Kashi, Tripti, and the others, the pain is too much.
As one X user said, “Kedarnath is for prayers, not pain. Let’s keep it safe.” India is mourning, and everyone hopes this never happens again.
Last Updated on: Sunday, June 15, 2025 11:52 pm by Mohammad Hussain Shaik | Published by: Mohammad Hussain Shaik on Sunday, June 15, 2025 11:52 pm | News Categories: Trending, India, News
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