Pilgrim-bound chopper operated by Aryan Aviation crashes into forest near Gaurikund; technical fault and bad weather suspected.

A tragic helicopter crash in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand has claimed the lives of seven people, including a pilot and six pilgrims, as reported by NDTV on Sunday, June 15. The helicopter was en route from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi when it lost control and crashed into a forested area near Gaurikund.

The ill-fated flight was operated by Aryan Aviation and was carrying pilgrims back from the sacred Kedarnath temple, a significant Hindu pilgrimage site situated in the Himalayas. The journey, typically lasting only about ten minutes, took a fatal turn as the chopper went down between Gaurikund and Sonprayag. The incident reportedly occurred around 5:20 AM local time, according to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority.

Initial reports suggest that the crash may have been caused by a combination of technical failure and adverse weather conditions in the mountainous region. The passengers onboard included individuals from different Indian states, including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Among the deceased was a child, further compounding the sorrow of the incident.

Local residents, who were in the area collecting grass for cattle, were among the first to detect the crash site. They noticed smoke billowing from the forest and quickly alerted authorities. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were dispatched promptly to the location.

The news of the crash was confirmed by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami via a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he described the incident as deeply saddening. He stated that teams from SDRF, the local administration, and other emergency units were actively engaged in rescue operations. He also offered prayers for the safe recovery of any potential survivors, although all seven occupants of the helicopter were later confirmed dead.

This latest accident marks the fifth helicopter-related mishap in the region since the opening of the Kedarnath temple doors on May 2 this year. The high-altitude terrain and unpredictable weather conditions in the Himalayas have long posed operational challenges for aviation in the area, especially during the annual pilgrimage season.

In a related incident on June 7, another helicopter bound for Kedarnath was forced to make an emergency landing due to a technical glitch. During the landing, the rear rotor of the aircraft struck a parked vehicle. While the passengers escaped unharmed, the pilot sustained minor injuries. That event reignited concerns about the safety of aviation services operating in the region.

The repeated incidents over the past few weeks have raised questions about the operational standards and safety protocols of helicopter services catering to religious tourism in Uttarakhand. Authorities are likely to face increased scrutiny as they investigate the causes behind this latest crash and review existing aviation guidelines for high-altitude zones.

As rescue and recovery operations continue, the tragedy has cast a somber shadow over what is traditionally a spiritually uplifting pilgrimage. The Kedarnath temple attracts thousands of devotees every year, and helicopter services have become a popular mode of transport for many, particularly the elderly or those unable to trek the challenging routes.

With the growing reliance on aerial services for accessing remote holy sites, this latest crash underscores the urgent need for enhanced regulatory oversight, better maintenance of aircraft, and real-time weather assessment tools to ensure passenger safety. Further updates are expected as investigators assess the black box data and other evidence from the crash site.