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India Gazette
21 hours ago
- General
- India Gazette
U'khand chopper crash: Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau to carry out probe
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 15 (ANI): The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will investigate Sunday morning's helicopter crash near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag District, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated. The DGCA further said that, in light of the crash, the frequencies of helicopter operations to Char Dham would be reduced as a precautionary measure. Enhanced surveillance and operational reviews are also being carried out by DGCA. 'Today, Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter VT-BKA operating flight on sector Shri Kedarnath ji- Aryan Helipad, Guptkanshi, was involved in an accident. There were five passengers, one infant and one crew member on board. The helicopter took off at 05:19 hours for Guptkanshi and crashed near Gaurikund,' DGCA said providing details of the crash. Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Department (UCADA), Sonika, stated that helicopter shuttle services in the area had been closed given the ongoing relief operations and weather conditions in the valley . Sonika further stated that the District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) will reach the site soon. 'Since the rescue operation is underway and seeing the weather conditions in the valley, our shuttle services have been closed. Almost all the helicopters are involved in the rescue operation. DM and SSP will also reach the site soon,' Sonika told ANI. 'At around 5:30 AM, we got the information that a helicopter, which was going from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, could not be located. After some time, it was learnt that it had crashed near Gaurikund. Rescue operation is underway, SDRF teams have reached the spot. A total of 6 passengers and one pilot were on board the helicopter...' she further said. All seven people onboard the helicopter, including the pilot, that crashed near the forested area of Gaurikund early today are feared dead, the State Disaster Response Force said. According to preliminary information, the helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation crashed due to inclement weather. (ANI)
India Gazette
21 hours ago
- General
- India Gazette
7 killed in Uttarakhand chopper crash: SDRF
Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand) [India], June 15 (ANI): All seven people, including the pilot on board a helicopter which crashed near the forested area of Gaurikund in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district early on Sunday morning died on spot, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) said. The Aryan Aviation Helicopter was flying to Guptkashi from the Kedarnath Dham when it crashed at 5:30 am today. The deceased have been identified as Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan (39), resident of Jaipur, Vikram Rawat (47) a Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee representative and resident of Rasi, Vinod Devi (66), resident of Uttar Pradesh, Trishti Singh (19), resident of Uttar Pradesh, Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41), resident of Gujarat, Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal and Kashi (2), resident of Maharashtra. Rescue teams were immediately dispatched under the direction of SDRF Commander Arpan Yadav. The incident spot was located in a very inaccessible and dense forest area, where a fast-paced and coordinated rescue operation was carried out by the joint teams of SDRF, NDRF, and local police. Rescue teams worked in inclement weather to retrieve the bodies of the deceased. Furthermore, the bodies will be brought down to the road by the SDRF team. Employees of BKTC gathered at all the offices of the temple committee and expressed condolences at the demise of BKTC employee, Vikram Rawat, the Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee spokesperson, Harish Gaur said. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a virtual high-level meeting with senior officials from the CM residence after the helicopter crash. State Chief Secretary, Disaster Management Secretary, UCADA CEO, Garhwal Commissioner and other senior officials were present in the high-level meeting. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will investigate the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated. The DGCA further said that, in light of the crash, the frequencies of helicopter operations to Char Dham would be reduced as a precautionary measure. Enhanced surveillance and operational reviews are also being carried out by DGCA. 'Today, Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter VT-BKA operating flight on sector Shri Kedarnath ji- Aryan Helipad, Guptkanshi, was involved in an accident. There were five passengers, one infant and one crew member on board. The helicopter took off at 05:19 hours for Guptkanshi and crashed near Gaurikund,' DGCA said providing details of the crash. Chief Executive Officer of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Department (UCADA), Sonika, stated that helicopter shuttle services in the area had been closed given the ongoing relief operations and weather conditions in the valley. Sonika further stated that the District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) will reach the site soon. 'Since the rescue operation is underway and seeing the weather conditions in the valley, our shuttle services have been closed. Almost all the helicopters are involved in the rescue operation. DM and SSP will also reach the site soon,' Sonika told ANI. 'At around 5:30 AM, we got the information that a helicopter, which was going from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, could not be located. After some time, it was learnt that it had crashed near Gaurikund. Rescue operation is underway, SDRF teams have reached the spot. A total of 6 passengers and one pilot were on board the helicopter...' she further said. (ANI)
India Gazette
21 hours ago
- India Gazette
Kedarnath-Gaurikund helicopter crash: CM Dhami chairs high-level meeting; 7 dead
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 15 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday held a virtual emergency meeting with senior officials following the crash of a helicopter near Kedarnath-Gaurikund in the Rudraprayag district. The meeting, held at the Chief Minister's residence, was attended by the Chief Secretary, the Disaster Management Secretary, UCADA CEO, Garhwal Commissioner, and other top officials. Earlier in the day, at around 5:30 am, a helicopter en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi crashed near Gaurikund. The helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation, had seven people on board -- five adult passengers, one infant, and the pilot. All seven lost their lives in the crash, according to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). The victims have been identified as Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan, Vikram Rawat, Vinod Devi, Trishti Singh, Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal, Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal, and an infant named Kashi. As soon as information about the crash was received, SDRF Commander Arpan Yadav directed rescue teams to the site. The crash site was in a dense and difficult forested area, making access challenging. However, joint teams from the SDRF, NDRF, and local police carried out a swift and coordinated rescue operation. All seven bodies were recovered and are being brought down to the road head by the SDRF team. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) would conduct a detailed probe into the incident. In light of the crash, the frequencies of helicopter operations to Char Dham will be reduced as a precautionary measure. Enhanced surveillance and operational reviews are also being carried out by DGCA, the aviation authority said in its statement. Providing more details of the incident, the DGCA added, 'Today, Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter VT-BKA operating a flight on the Shri Kedarnath ji - Aryan Helipad Guptkashi sector was involved in an accident. There were five passengers, one infant, and one crew member on board. The helicopter took off at 05:19 hours for Guptkashi and crashed near Gaurikund.' (ANI)
Indian Express
a day 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.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau to probe Uttarakhand helicopter crash that killed 7
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will probe a helicopter crash near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand, in which seven people, including an infant, were killed on early Sunday. On Sunday morning, an Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter VT-BKA operating on sector 'Shri Kedarnath ji- Aryan Helipad, Guptkanshi' was involved in an accident. "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. Five pilgrims, the pilot and an employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee were among those killed. The statement issued by the civil aviation ministry said the accident will be investigated by AAIB. As a precautionary measure, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) has already reduced frequency of helicopter operations to Char Dham. The watchdog is carrying out the enhanced surveillance and reviewing the operation for any further action, the statement said.
