Kedarnath chopper crash: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami suspends helicopter services for two days
Helicopter services for Kedarnath have been suspended for the next two days after a chopper taking devotees from the pilgrim crashed, claiming seven lives, including that of an infant, on Sunday.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told news agency ANI that the helicopter service would not run for the next two days,
'Helicopter services will not run today or tomorrow. These services will remain closed until the safety of the passengers is ensured,' he said.
The DGCA has also announced that, as a precautionary measure, the frequencies of helicopter operations to Char Dham will be reduced.
Dhami has directed the aviation companies to strictly comply with safety norms issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and warned of strict action against those who will flout those rules.
'An emergency meeting has been called immediately, in which instructions have been given that the rules of our DGCA should not be violated,' he said.
He added that pilots flying in the upper Himalayan areas should have experience in the region and urged aviation companies to ensure this.
The chief minister suggested setting up a control and command centre for the helicopters and said strict action will be taken against the culprits of Sunday's accident.
However, he also mentioned that the crash was due to 'bad weather'. 'I pray to God for those who lost their lives,' he said.
On Sunday, June 15, seven people, including the pilot on board a helicopter were killed after the chopper crashed near the forested area of Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district.
The Aryan Aviation Helicopter was flying to Guptkashi from the Kedarnath Dham when it crashed at 5:30 am today. Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan (39)
Vikram Rawat (47)
Vinod Devi (66), Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee representative
Trishti Singh (19)
Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41)
Wife Shraddha Jaiswal
Daughter Kashi Jaiswal (2)
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will investigate the crash.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Pilot killed in Kedarnath crash was Army veteran, wife serving as Lt Col
Dehradun/Jaipur: Among the seven killed in the helicopter crash near Gaurikund on the Kedarnath route on Sunday was the pilot, 37-year-old Lt Colonel (Retd) Rajveer Singh Chouhan from Jaipur. After serving in the Indian Army for over 15 years since 2009, Chouhan had begun his career in civil aviation just eight months ago, joining Aryan Aviation Private Limited, the operator of the ill-fated chopper, in Oct 2024. He was scheduled to return home soon to his wife, a Lt Colonel in the Army, to celebrate the birth of their twins, born a few months ago. As his father, Govind Singh, prepared for the celebrations, the family received the devastating news that Chouhan's helicopter had crashed around 5.30 am shortly after take-off. "He had just started the next chapter of his life," said a family friend. "The twins brought so much joy. Preparations were on for a traditional ceremony at home. No one imagined something so horrific would happen." With over 2,000 hours of flying experience, Chouhan had served in both the Regiment of Artillery and the Army Aviation Corps. According to his LinkedIn profile, he was involved in aerial operations, logistics, disaster response and risk assessment. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Everybody Is Switching To This Enterprise Accounting Software [Take a Look] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo He had also undergone extensive training in helicopter operations, aviation safety, aircraft maintenance, and mission-critical logistics. Last year, he completed a full-time general management programme for defence officers in business administration and management from FMS Delhi. Since joining Aryan Aviation, he had been flying the Bell 407 helicopter. As news of his death came, relatives and friends gathered at his Jaipur home to mourn the loss of the former officer who was described as calm, tenacious and deeply committed to his duty. "He was a determined and courageous officer but always wore a gentle smile," said a former colleague. "Even in the most stressful situations, Rajveer remained composed and motivated everyone around him." His family left for Uttarakhand on Sunday evening to bring back his body. Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed his condolences over the tragedy and said, "The loss of a brave pilot from Rajasthan and other devotees in the Kedarnath helicopter crash is deeply saddening. May Lord Kedarnath give peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families." Preliminary reports suggest that adverse weather may have contributed to the crash. Officials said the helicopter likely ran into dense fog and poor visibility in the narrow Himalayan valley. Besides Captain Chouhan, the others killed in the crash were identified as Vikram Rawat, 45, a Badri-Kedar temple committee representative from Ukhimath in Rudraprayag; Vinod Devi, 66, and Trishti Singh, 19, both from Uttar Pradesh; Rajkumar Jaiswal, 41, a coal transporter from Maharashtra; his wife Shraddha Jaiswal, 35; and their two-year-old daughter, Kashi.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
'Marines, Go Home!': Americans Scream At 'No Kings' Protest; Horse-mounted Cop Kicks Them
Man Who Flew Same Air India Plane Before Crash, Flags Issues In Viral Post Seen By 4 Million People In a chilling revelation, Delhi-based flyer Akash Vatsa claims he flew on the same Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner—just two hours before it crashed near Ahmedabad while operating as AI171 to London. Speaking to ANI, Vatsa said he experienced multiple issues onboard, including malfunctioning air-conditioning and flickering in-flight entertainment. He also shared that he observed 'unusual flap movements' mid-air. His viral tweet, seen by over 4 million people, includes footage from inside the aircraft, showing visibly uncomfortable passengers. While aviation experts note that flap activity and AC behavior can be within operational norms, Vatsa's account raises fresh concerns about aircraft fitness prior to one of India's worst aviation disasters. Air India has not yet responded publicly to Vatsa's claim. The plane crashed minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 265 people. The aircraft had flown in from Delhi just hours earlier.#airindiacrash #akashvatsa #boeing787 #flightai171 #ahmedabadcrash #airindia #aviationsafety #viralvideo #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews 12.6K views | 2 days ago
NDTV
5 hours ago
- NDTV
Family Mourns Son Lost In Plane Crash Days After Father's Death
Ahmedabad (Gujarat): In a heart-wrenching incident, the family of Lawrence Daniel Christian, one of the 241 passengers who died in the Air India plane crash en route to London, mourned yet another loss just days after the death of the family's patriarch. Lawrence, who had been living in London with his wife for the past one and a half years due to work commitments, had recently returned to Ahmedabad on leave following his father's demise. Tragically, his journey back to London ended in disaster, leaving the Christian family shattered once again. While speaking to ANI, his mother, Raveena Daniel Christian, said, "...He was living in London with his wife for the last 1.5 years due to work. He came here on leave after my husband's death 15 days was returning to London and we also went..." #WATCH | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | Lawrence Daniel Christian's mother, Raveena Daniel Christian, says, "...He was living in London with his wife for the last 1.5 years due to work. He came here on leave after my husband's death 15 days was returning to London and we also went… — ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2025 She could not finish the sentence as grief overtook her. The Christian family had accompanied Lawrence to the airport to bid farewell, unaware that it would be the last time they would see him alive. Additional Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital Dr Rajnish Patel said, "...So far, DNA samples of 15 people who died have been remains of three dead have been handed over to their families..." Meanwhile, Retired Captain and aviation expert Alok Singh has shared his insights on the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, which resulted in the loss of 241 lives. Mr Singh attributed the crash to possible causes such as loss of thrust on both engines, bird strike, pilot error, or technical fault. Alok Singh said, "This is a very tragic incident. It will be marked as Black Day in world aviation industry. This is the rarest of rare incidents. From the video, it is clear that the aircraft stopped producing lift. The reason for this could be loss of thrust on both engines, which could have happened due to fuel starvation, or the engine could have stopped getting fuel. A bird strike is also a possibility. This can also be a pilot error. It can also be a technical fault." Mr Singh emphasised the importance of the black box, which records crucial data and cockpit conversations. He explained that the data from the black box would be analysed to determine the exact cause of the crash. On Thursday, the Air India flight AI171 was en route to London from Ahmedabad when it crashed shortly after takeoff from the airport, ramming into a doctors' hostel of BJ Medical College in Gujarat's Ahmedabad. There were 242 people on board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Of the passengers, 241 died in the crash. The lone survivor, identified as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment.
