A helicopter carrying Hindu pilgrims crashed in northern India early Sunday, killing all seven people on board, including a 23-month-old infant, authorities confirmed.
The aircraft, operated by Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd, was en route from the Kedarnath shrine to Guptkashi in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district when it went down around 5.30am local time.
The crash occurred near Gaurikund, in the forested region of Kedarghati.
District tourism official Rahul Chaubey said the crash was likely caused by poor weather conditions, which often pose risks for aircraft in the mountainous terrain.
The wreckage was located near Gauri Mai Khark after local women cutting grass saw smoke and alerted the authorities. Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and forest department responded quickly, recovering all deceased from the charred remains.
The deceased were identified as Rajkumar Jaiswal, Shraddha Jaiswal, their daughter Kashi Jaiswal, Tushti Singh, Vinod Negi, Vikram Singh Rawat-a staff member of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee-and pilot Captain Rajbeer Singh Chauhan.
Chauhan, a former Indian Army officer, had more than 15 years of flying experience, including missions in difficult terrain. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief on social media and said rescue and recovery operations were underway. “I pray to Baba Kedar for strength to the bereaved families,” he posted. Helicopter services along the Kedarnath route have been suspended until further notice.
Pilgrims travel to the Kedarnath temple in large numbers during the summer months, when the high-altitude site becomes accessible.
On 7 June, a Kestrel Aviation helicopter made an emergency landing after a technical snag, injuring the pilot but sparing the passengers.
The crash adds to a growing list of helicopter accidents in the region, raising concerns about air safety during the pilgrimage season. In 2022, seven people were killed when a Kedarnath-bound helicopter crashed shortly after take-off.
The helicopter crash follows a larger aviation tragedy just days earlier. On Thursday, more than 240 people were killed when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after taking off from the western city of Ahmedabad. The plane, which was bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, slammed into a medical college hostel during lunch hour. Only one known survivor has been reported.