A tragic helicopter crash near Gaurikund in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, has claimed the lives of all seven people on board. The incident occurred early Sunday morning, June 15, 2025, around 5:30 AM, when the helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd, crashed between Gaurikund and Trijuginarayan in Kedarghati. The helicopter was ferrying pilgrims from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi when it went down, reportedly due to adverse weather conditions and poor visibility.
The wreckage was located in a forested area above Gauri Mai Khark. Local women cutting grass nearby were the first to report the crash, prompting an immediate response from State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and other rescue teams. All bodies were recovered from the charred remains of the aircraft.
The deceased have been identified as Captain Rajbeer Singh Chauhan, the pilot from Jaipur, who had served in the Indian Army for over 15 years; Vikram Rawat, a Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee staffer from Ukhimath in Uttarakhand; Vinod Devi and Trishti Singh from Uttar Pradesh; and Rajkumar Jaiswal, Shraddha Jaiswal, and their 23-month-old daughter Kashi Jaiswal from Maharashtra.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his condolences and has ordered a high-level investigation into the incident. He stated that the safety of passengers is the top priority, and helicopter services would be suspended for two days for investigation. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will investigate the crash. All Char Dham yatra operations by Aryan Aviation have been suspended with immediate effect. Two other helicopter pilots working for a different operator have been suspended for six months for flying in "unsuitable weather conditions".
This incident adds to a troubling record of helicopter-related accidents in Uttarakhand, particularly on pilgrimage routes. Just days prior, on June 7, a helicopter operated by Kestrel Aviation developed a technical snag during take-off, forcing an emergency landing on the Rudraprayag-Gaurikund Highway. On May 8, a helicopter en route to Gangotri crashed near Gangnani, resulting in six fatalities.
Concerns about aviation safety in the hilly Himalayan region, especially during peak travel months, have been raised. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has already taken steps to tighten rules around helicopter operations and suspended two operators for violations. As a precautionary measure, DGCA has reduced the frequency of helicopter operations to Char Dham and is carrying out enhanced surveillance.
The helicopter involved in Sunday's crash was Aryan Aviation's Bell 407, bearing the registration VT-BKA, and operating between Shri Kedarnath Ji Helipad and Aryan Helipad, Guptkashi. The helicopter took off from Guptkashi at 5:10 am and landed at Shri Kedarnath Ji Helipad at 5:18 am. It departed again at 5:19 am for Guptkashi and is reported to have crashed near Gaurikund between 5:30 and 5:45 am.
The tragic incident comes just days after the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad, underscoring the need for stringent safety measures and thorough investigations into aviation accidents to prevent future loss of life.
