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Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Kedarnath helicopter crash: Maharashtra couple, toddler die; son survives by staying back
Among the seven who died in the helicopter crash in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag on Sunday was a family from Maharashtra's Yavatmal, in which a couple and their two-year-old daughter were on the ill-fated chopper while their son reportedly survived the tragedy as he stayed back with his grandfather. Seven people who were travelling on the helicopter to the Kedarnath shrine were died in the crash that took place early Sunday in the forests of Gaurikund in Rudraprayag amid poor visibility. The members of the family from Yavatmal were identified as Rajkumar Jaiswal, a transport businessman, his wife Shraddha, and their two-year-old daughter Kashi, news agency PTI quoted former Wani MLA Vishvas Nandekar as saying. Jaiswal along with his family members had left from Wani in Yavatmal on June 12 to visit the Kedarnath temple. The couple's son, Vivaan, survived the tragedy as he had stayed back with his grandfather in Maharashtra's Pandharkawda and did not accompany the family on the trip, according to a News18 report. The pilot of he helicopter, Rajveer Singh Chauhan, and a member of the Badrinath-Uttarakhand temple trust, Vikram Singh Rawat, were also killed besides Uttar Pradesh's Vinood Devi (66) and Tushti Singh (19). According to Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar, zero visibility caused by bad weather apparently led to the crash. The Civil Aviation Ministry said the accident will be investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Helicopter services on the Chardham yatra route were suspended for two days on Sunday in the wake of the crash of a chopper returning from Kedarnath, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced. "There were 5 passengers, one infant and one crew member on board. The helicopter took off from Guptakashi at 05:10 Hrs and Landed at Shri Kedarnath ji Helipad at 05:18 hrs. Helicopter took off again at 05:19 hrs for Guptkanshi and crashed near Gaurikund," an official statement said. The helicopter crash comes days after an Air India flight to London crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and several others on the ground. Earlier, on May 8, a helicopter going to Gangotri Dham crashed in Uttarkashi district in which six people were killed. On June 7, a helicopter going to Kedarnath had to make an emergency landing on the road due to a technical fault soon after take-off in which the pilot was injured but the five devotees on board were rescued safely.
News18
16 hours ago
- General
- News18
Couple, 2-Year-Old Daughter Die In Kedarnath Chopper Crash, Son Survives After Staying Behind
Last Updated: The couple's son, Vivaan, survived the tragedy as he had stayed back with his grandfather in Pandharkawda and did not accompany the family on the trip. A family from Maharashtra's Yavatmal died after a helicopter returning from Kedarnath crashed in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district on Sunday. The helicopter was en route to Guptkashi. The couple and their two-year-old daughter from the Jaiswal community in Wani have been identified as Rajkumar Jaiswal, Shraddha Jaiswal, and Kashi Rajkumar Jaiswal. The couple's son, Vivaan, survived the tragedy as he had stayed back with his grandfather in Pandharkawda and did not accompany the family on the trip. Meanwhile, Captain Rajveer Singh Chauhan, the pilot who died in the incident, was the father of twins born just two months ago, officials said. A resident of Shastri Nagar in Jaipur, Chauhan had served in the Indian Army for over 15 years and had vast experience of flying missions over different terrains. Kedarnath Chopper Crash Uttarakhand witnessed at least six helicopter crashes on the Char Dham route within a span of nearly 40 days. This includes the Sunday chopper crash killed seven people. Seven people, five adults, one infant, and one pilot died in the incident when the chopper took off from Guptkashi at 05:10 am and landed at Shri Kedarnath Ji helipad at 05:18 am. The helicopter took off again at 5:19 am for Guptkanshi and crashed near Gaurikund. The helicopter, with six pilgrims (five adults and a child) and a pilot, died in the incident when the chopper took off from Guptkashi at 05:10 am and landed at Shri Kedarnath Ji helipad at 05:18 am. The helicopter took off again at 5:19 am when it crashed in a forest between Gaurikund and Sonprayag. The pilgrims killed during the 10-minute ride were from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The visuals showed the wreckage of the helicopter in flames in an open field. The crash occurred between Gaurikund and Triyuginarayan while returning from the shrine. According to officials, the chopper belonged to Aryan Aviation. The officials believe bad weather may be the cause of the tragic incident. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed anguish over the chopper crash and said that the SDRF and other rescue teams have been put to the rescue operation. 'Very sad news has been received about a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district. SDRF, local administration and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. I pray to Baba Kedar for the safety of all the travellers," he posted on X. In the wake of the crash, Dhami has issued strict instructions for helicopter operations in the state. The chief minister said a strict SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) should be prepared for the operation of heli services in the state, in which a complete check of the technical condition of the helicopter should be made mandatory. Weather status should also be checked before heli operations. The chief secretary has been directed to constitute a committee of technical experts, which will prepare the SOP after thoroughly reviewing all technical and safety aspects of heli operations. The incident comes days after tragic Air India flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad after it took off for London. 241 people, including the cabin crew, died in the crash on June 12. There was merely one survivor in the incident, a British national. First Published: June 15, 2025, 12:50 IST
Indian Express
17 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
Tragic end to Maharashtra business family's long-cherished Char Dham yatra as chopper crashes in Uttarakhand
Three members of a business family from Vani town in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district were among the seven people killed when a helicopter ferrying pilgrims from Kedarnath crashed near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand Sunday morning. The Bell 407 chopper, operated by Aryan Aviation, crashed minutes after taking off from Kedarnath on its return leg to Guptkashi. ( Rajkumar Jaiswal, 41, his wife, Shraddha Jaiswal, 35, and their two-year-old daughter, Kashi, were on a Char Dham pilgrimage that they began on June 12, fulfilling a long-standing religious vow. Their six-year-old son, Vivaan, however, survived only because he had stayed back in Pandharkawda in Maharashtra with his grandparents. Locals described the Jaiswals as a 'devout and deeply spiritual family,' known for their involvement in both religious and social life in Vani, while also running a successful business. In Vani, news of the Jaiswal family's death sparked deep mourning. Rajkumar Jaiswal, described as 'soft-spoken and devout,' had long wished to undertake the Char Dham yatra with his family, according to locals. Last year, the couple hosted a Shiv Mahapuran Katha to mark daughter Kashi's naming ceremony, a well-attended event led by spiritual preacher Pradeep Mishra. Village residents say the Jaiswal family lived a life rooted in faith, and now, the survival of their son is the only solace. The family also ran a successful retail business and was active in community affairs. Authorities are arranging to bring the bodies back for last rites in Pandharkawda. The other four killed in the chopper crash were identified as Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan from Jaipur ( who was the pilot, Vikram Rawat from Ukhimath in Uttarakhand, Vinod Devi and Trishti Singh from Uttar Pradesh. According to a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) press release, the Bell 407 helicopter (VT-BKA) took off from Guptkashi at 5.10 am, landed at Kedarnath at 5.18 am, and departed again at 5.19 am. It crashed shortly after, near the forested slopes of Gaurikund. All five adult passengers, one infant, and the pilot were killed. 'As a precautionary measure, DGCA has already reduced the frequency of helicopter operations to Char Dham, is carrying out enhanced surveillance, and reviewing operations for any further action,' the aviation regulator said. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will lead a formal probe. Rescue teams from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed immediately but found no survivors.
