Kedarnath helicopter crash: What led to the fatal accident near a 'very remote' area?

In a tragic incident near Kedarnath, a helicopter carrying seven people crashed on Sunday morning due to poor weather and low visibility, killing all onboard.

The Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd chopper had taken off from Kedarnath at 5:30 am and was headed for Guptkashi when it lost contact shortly after take-off. The aircraft went down near the Gauri Mai Khark forests above Gaurikund in the narrow and mountainous Kedarghati region.

This has further prompted the Uttarakhand government to suspend helicopter services for two days and initiate major safety reviews for mountain aviation operations.

Kedarnath chopper crash: What led to crash

Preliminary investigations have identified dense fog and zero visibility as the primary reasons behind the crash. "The helicopter is believed to have flown into dense fog, drastically reducing pilot visibility and contributing to a loss of control," Rudraprayag district disaster management officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said.

Furthermore, Inspector General (Garhwal Range) Rajiv Swaroop said that the site of the crash was a very remote area.

Also Read: Helicopter enroute to Guptkashi from Kedarnath with 7 onboard crashes in Uttarakhand

Officials said the narrow mountainous terrain of the Kedarghati region further limited the pilot’s ability to maneuver. District tourism development officer Rahul Chaubey added that search operations were launched immediately after receiving alerts about the missing aircraft. The helicopter caught fire after crash, officials confirmed.

Who were the victims?

The helicopter was carrying seven individuals, including pilot Rajveer Singh Chauhan. The passengers have been identified as:

• Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal (35) and her two-year-old child Kashi from Maharashtra
• Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41) from Gujarat
• Vikram Singh Rawat from Uttarakhand
• Vinood Devi (66) and Tushti Singh (19) from Uttar Pradesh

Kedarnath chopper crash: Helicopter ops suspended

Following the crash, Chief Minister Dhami suspended all helicopter services for two days across the state. "Strict action will be taken against the culprits in this accident... Helicopter services will not run today or tomorrow. These services will remain closed until the safety of the passengers is ensured," Dhami said.

He added that pilots operating in the upper Himalayan areas must have experience of the region and that aviation companies must strictly comply with DGCA regulations.

Also Read: Uttarakhand chopper crash: Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau to carry out probe

Dhami directed the formation of a technical expert committee, led by the chief secretary, to draft strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). These will mandate real-time weather assessments and thorough technical checks before each flight.

The chief minister has also ordered a high-level investigation into the Kedarnath crash, as well as a review of previous helicopter accidents. The committee will identify systemic lapses and recommend strict action against individuals or companies found negligent.