The helicopter flying to Kedarnath that went missing earlier today has crashed in Gaurikund. There were seven people on board six passengers and the pilot.
According to the media report, all seven people have died in the crash.
The helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation, was a Bell 407 model (VT-BKA). It crashed between the forests of Gaurikund and Trijuginarayan in the Kedar valley and caught fire. The crash likely happened due to poor visibility. Onboard were six adults, including the pilot named Rajiv, and a 23-month-old baby. The helicopter was flying from Kedarnath when it went missing and then crashed in Gaurikund.
In a statement, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) said the accident happened at 5:20 AM on June 15. The helicopter was heading to Guptkashi with five adults and one child, along with the pilot. The passengers were from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami posted on X confirming that the crash happened near Rudraprayag district. He said that the SDRF, local administration, and rescue teams are carrying out relief work. He also held a meeting with officials to review the situation.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also spoke about the crash, calling it India’s second civil aviation tragedy in a short time. She offered prayers for the victims, mentioning that the country had recently lost at least 270 lives in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.
As a safety step, the DGCA has already reduced helicopter flights to Char Dham, increased surveillance, and is reviewing operations. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will investigate the crash, DGCA said.
This accident comes just a week after another helicopter incident in Kedarnath, where an air ambulance made an emergency landing due to a tail rotor problem. The pilot safely landed the helicopter, and all passengers survived. After landing, the AIIMS Rishikesh air ambulance was seen spinning 360 degrees in a viral video.