A tragic helicopter crash early Sunday morning claimed the lives of all seven individuals on board as the chopper, operated by Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd, went down in a forested area between Gaurikund and Trijuginarayan in Kedarghati. The ill-fated flight was en route from the Kedarnath temple to Guptkashi when it reportedly encountered sudden adverse weather, leading to a fatal descent and explosion.

The helicopter had departed from Kedarnath helipad at approximately 5:17 am and lost contact with aviation authorities shortly after takeoff. It crashed at around 5:20 am, and all passengers, including a child and the pilot, perished in the fire that followed.

Local residents collecting fodder first spotted smoke emerging from the forest area and alerted officials. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) began operations after reaching Gaurikund by 7:00 am and trekking to the crash site, initiating recovery by 8:55 am. Due to the extent of burns on the victims’ bodies, DNA testing will be conducted prior to handing them over to their respective families, Inspector General Rajiv Swaroop confirmed.

Victims Identified

Among the deceased were the pilot, Captain Rajveer Singh Chauhan, 39, from Jaipur, and six passengers. The passengers included Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41), Shraddha Jaiswal (35), and their 23-month-old daughter Kashi, all residents of Yavatmal, Maharashtra. Their elder son, Vivaan, was spared as he had stayed behind with his grandfather.

Also on board were Vikram Rawat (46), an employee of the Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) from Ukhimath in Uttarakhand; Vinod Devi (66); and Trishti Singh (29) from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh.

A slightly conflicting earlier list had named Trishti Singh as 19 years old and identified the child as 10-year-old Rashi, but authorities have confirmed the correct identities and ages as noted above.

Helicopter Services Suspended

Following the crash, all helicopter services in the Char Dham region have been suspended indefinitely. The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) jointly decided on the suspension, citing the need to assess safety protocols thoroughly.

“The weather turned bad during the return journey. The pilot tried to move the chopper out of the valley but it crashed near Gaurikund. Authorities, including NDRF and SDRF are leading the operations,” said Rahul Chaubey, District Tourism Development Officer and nodal officer for helicopter services in Rudraprayag.

Political Leaders Express Grief

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed sorrow over the incident via X (formerly Twitter):
“The extremely distressing news of a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district has been received. SDRF, local administration, and other rescue teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations.”
“जनपद रुद्रप्रयाग में हेलीकॉप्टर के दुर्घटनाग्रस्त होने का अत्यंत दुःखद समाचार प्राप्त हुआ है। एसडीआरएफ, स्थानीय प्रशासन एवं अन्य रेस्क्यू दल राहत एवं बचाव कार्यों में जुटे हैं। बाबा केदार से सभी यात्रियों के सकुशल होने की कामना करता हूँ।”

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also offered condolences:
“Most distressingly, another civil aviation tragedy was reported this morning, this time from Uttarakhand, in the Kedarnath – Gaurikund – Guptakashi region. 7 people were on board including a child and the pilot, and there has been a reported crash with worst being feared by media. While we await the results of rescue and search operations, my prayers go out for each one on board.”

Multiple Crashes Raise Safety Concerns

This tragedy marks the fifth aviation-related incident in Uttarakhand since the Char Dham Yatra began on May 2, 2025, and brings the total number of deaths to 13. Just days earlier, on June 7, another helicopter had to make an emergency landing on a highway near Barasu due to technical failure. Though there were no fatalities in that instance, the pilot suffered minor injuries.

Government Orders Investigations and New SOPs

In response, Chief Minister Dhami has directed the Chief Secretary to form a technical expert committee to prepare a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for helicopter operations in Uttarakhand.

“Chief Minister Dhami said that a strict SOP should be prepared for the operation of heli services in the state, in which a complete check of the technical condition of the helicopter and taking accurate weather information before the flight should be made mandatory,” ANI reported.

Additionally, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will lead the formal investigation into the crash. A high-level committee already assigned to review past helicopter incidents will now expand its scope to include this latest tragedy. The government aims to uncover any possible lapses or negligence and ensure accountability.

Chief Minister Dhami reiterated the importance of helicopter services for pilgrimage, emergency evacuation, and disaster response, stating that passenger safety will be the topmost priority going forward.