DGCA suspends operations from Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun over safety concerns

NEW DELHI: Aviation regulators DGCA has suspended flight operations from the Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun district of Uttrakhand over safety concerns.

The decision to temporarily shut all operations from the helipad, which caters chopper traffic to Kedranath, was taken following an inspection by a team of Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

All the flights from Sahastradhara helipad are now being operated from Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport, a DGCA official said today.

"During the inspection of the helipad it was found that there was no proper fuel storage facility. The choppers were also being refueled in violation of all safety norms, prompting the DGCA to order closure of operations for the time being," the official said.

At the same time, the DGCA has also suspended two private chopper operators for various safety lapses including alleged discrepancies in the flight operations related documents, pilots medical, among others, the official said.