Helicopter crash near Kedarnath kills seven amid challenging conditions

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Helicopter crash near Kedarnath kills seven amid challenging conditions

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By Sky Industry News

Jun 13, 2025

Just days after the Air India flight AI171 crash, another aviation disaster has occurred in India. A helicopter en route from Kedarnath Temple to Guptkashi crashed near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district on June 15, 2025. The accident resulted in the deaths of all seven people onboard, including six passengers and the pilot.

The helicopter, a Bell 407 operated by Aryan Aviation, crashed around 5:20 AM in a densely forested area. The deceased include Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan, aged 39 and resident of Jaipur; Vikram Rawat, a BKTC representative from Rasi, Ukhimath; Vinod Devi, aged 66 from Uttar Pradesh; Trishti Singh, aged 19 from Uttar Pradesh; Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal, aged 41 from Gujarat; Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal from Maharashtra; and Kashi, a two-year-old girl also from Maharashtra.

The Kedarnath valley is known for its challenging high-altitude geography and unpredictable weather conditions. This region has seen multiple helicopter accidents over the past decade. In 2013, during the Uttarakhand floods, a Mi-17 helicopter carrying rescue personnel crashed near Gaurikund killing 20 people.

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Preliminary assessments suggest poor weather may have contributed to this latest crash. Rescue operations were hampered by the difficult terrain where the wreckage was found. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local police were deployed but no survivors were located.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced a technical committee would be formed to review safety protocols for helicopter operations in the state. Helicopter services in the Char Dham region have been suspended for two days as a precautionary measure.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. They will examine maintenance records and weather clearance for the flight.

This tragedy has reignited debate over helicopter use in high-risk areas during pilgrimage season. Experts stress the need for real-time weather monitoring systems and better pilot training for mountain flying.

India mourns this loss while investigations continue into these recent aviation tragedies.