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United News of India
16 hours ago
- General
- United News of India
Seven people including pilot die in Uttarakhand chopper crash
Rudraprayag/Dehradun, June 15 (UNI) Seven people, including the pilot, died when a helicopter carrying pilgrims returning from the Kedarnath Temple crashed in the Gaurikund area of Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district today, official sources said. The helicopter was bringing back five devotees and an employee of the temple committee after the darshan of Baba Kedarnath when it crashed around 5-30 am due to bad weather. All seven people, including the pilot, were killed. A 23-month-old girl is also among the dead. The pilgrim family had come from Maharashtra. Heli service nodal officer Rahul Chaubey said Aryan Aviation Company's helicopter VTBKA/BELL 407 crashed due to bad weather in the Gaurikund area, falling in the forest above Gauri Mai Khark He said the helicopter was going from Kedarnath Temple to Guptkashi. Women cutting grass above Gaurikund reported about the crash, as well as the dust it raised. District Disaster Management Officer of Rudraprayag, Nandan Singh Rajwar, said the crashed helicopter had left Kedarnath for Guptkashi at 5:21 am and at 5:24 am it was seen near Valley Poin amidst heavy fog which had turned visibility to zero in the area. At 6:13 am, the helicopter company informed that the chopper had not reach Guptkashi. A search and rescue operation was immediately started and the emergency response teams were activated. Eight National Disaster Response Force teams, six of the State Disaster Response Force and 22 policemen, along with the team of District Disaster Relief Force, rushed to a place called Khadak, located about five kilometres above the incident spot Gaurikund, and began a massive search operation. He said that the bodies of the victims of the accident have been badly burnt. Rajwar informed that there were six adults and a child in the ill-fated chopper. The deceased have been identified as Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan, pilot, resident of Jaipur, Vikram Rawat, employee, Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, resident of Rasi Ukhimath, (45), Vinod Devi, resident of Uttar Pradesh, (66), Trishti Singh Uttar Pradesh, (19), Rajkumar son Suresh Jaiswal, resident of Maharashtra, (41), Shraddha wife Rajkumar Jaiswal, resident of Maharashtra, (35), Kashi daughter Rajkumar, resident of Maharashtra, girl (02). He informed that the entire area has been cordoned off. Forensic and DNA sampling teams have also reached the informed that helpline numbers have been issued for the families of the affected. For this, State Emergency Operation Center 0135-2710334, 9058441404 1070 (toll fee) and Rudraprayag helpline number - 8958757335, 01364-233727 have been issued. UNI XC SSP BM
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Time of India
24-hour ban enforced on horses, mules being used in Kedarnath Yatra
The idol of Baba Kedarnath arrived at the Kedarnath Dham on May 1, and the temple doors for the devotees opened on the morning of May 2. Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A 24-hour ban has been enforced on the usage of horses and mules in the Kedarnath Yatra , an official said on administration took the following reported deaths of some horses and mules here."Yesterday, eight horses and mules died, while today, six of them died. We wanted to ascertain the reason behind it. Tomorrow, a team from the Centre will also come to check the reason for deaths..." said BVRC Purushottam, Secretary, Animal Husbandry (Uttarakhand).Meanwhile, on May 1, helicopter services commenced for the Kedarnath Yatra. The services commenced from Sonprayag in Uttarakhand to offer a convenient travel option for the pilgrims, as per Rana, a helicopter operator, said, "Online tickets are available on IRCTC , while offline tickets can be obtained through the District Magistrate or Sector Magistrate. We operate around 20 to 30 shuttles daily, serving over 150 pilgrims."He added that flight operations are subject to weather conditions. "If the weather is clear, we can run 25 to 30 flights a day. In case of bad weather, tickets are cancelled, and passenger safety is prioritised. Security arrangements are in place, and every passenger is properly briefed before flying."Rana also mentioned that around 150 online bookings are made daily, and advance booking is open for a idol of Baba Kedarnath arrived at the Kedarnath Dham on May 1, and the temple doors for the devotees opened on the morning of May Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached Yamunotri on Wednesday, April 30, where Yamunotri Dham opened to pilgrims on the occasion of Akshaya to reporters, Dhami said, "We are monitoring the situation from every angle to ensure that the Char Dham Yatra pilgrims do not face any problems... The journey to Yamunotri Dham is slightly more challenging than that to the other Dhams. For this, we are working on making a master plan."He added that pilgrimage to the Char Dham has increased significantly since 2014, following extensive development work undertaken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Hans India
02-05-2025
- Hans India
Kedarnath temple doors open for devotees after long wait
New Delhi: After months of anticipation, the sacred portals of Baba Kedarnath were opened for public darshan on Friday. With this, the Char Dham Yatra has officially commenced, allowing devotees to embark on the spiritual journey to the Himalayan shrines for the next six months. The doors of Kedarnath Dham were opened amid grand religious ceremonies and the chanting of Vedic hymns in the presence of thousands of devotees. The auspicious moment was marked by a festive and devotional atmosphere as pilgrims gathered to witness the spiritually significant event. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who has been actively monitoring the pilgrimage preparations, expressed his commitment to ensuring smooth travel and registration for the devotees. Speaking on the occasion, he said, 'I visited Rishikesh, the first halt of the Yatra, to review the arrangements. We've held discussions with stakeholders and directed officials to maintain active communication with pilgrims throughout the journey.' He further added, 'We wait for the doors of Baba Kedarnath to open each year with great devotion. This year, the Char Dham Yatra began on April 30 on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. I had the good fortune of being present at the opening of the Ganga shrine in Gangotri and feel blessed to be part of these divine moments. Two days from now, the doors of Badrinath Dham will also open.' Highlighting the efforts of local contributors, the Chief Minister appreciated the team handling logistics and transportation, particularly noting the contribution of Himanshu Chamoli and his team. 'I appreciate the efforts of Himanshu Chamoli and his entire team for ensuring good transportation and proper arrangements at the stations during the journey,' he said. 'The traders along the pilgrimage routes are vital to the Yatra as it forms the backbone of their livelihood. Their role is invaluable to the state and region.' This year, Kedarnath Temple has been adorned like never before. The Pushp Samiti from Rishikesh and Gujarat has decked the temple with a breathtaking 108 quintals of vibrant flowers. The colourful blooms have added an aura of divine beauty and fragrance to the already majestic shrine, leaving devotees mesmerised.
