In a devastating incident during this year’s Chota Char Dham Yatra, a Bell 407 helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation crashed near Gaurikund shortly after takeoff from Kedarnath, claiming the lives of all seven on board. The victims included six pilgrims — among them a two-year-old child — and the pilot.
The flight had departed Kedarnath at around 5:19 a.m. on June 15 and was en route to Guptkashi. It crashed just ten minutes later in a forested area under poor weather conditions, leading to a fiery wreck that left no survivors. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
This marks the fifth aviation-related incident on the Char Dham route since the pilgrimage season began on April 30. In total, two fatal crashes and three emergency landings have raised urgent concerns over safety protocols, especially given the treacherous terrain and unpredictable weather in the Himalayas.
In response, the Uttarakhand government has suspended all helicopter services to Kedarnath and other pilgrimage destinations until further notice. Aryan Aviation’s license to operate in the region has also been suspended.
The Uttarakhand High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the repeated accidents and demanded detailed reports from the state and central authorities. The court has also called for the formulation of a comprehensive policy to ensure safer operations in the high-altitude pilgrimage sector.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has vowed stricter oversight, including deploying only highly experienced pilots, enforcing weather-related no-fly rules, and limiting flight frequencies during peak pilgrimage periods.
With more than 200 deaths already reported during this year's yatra due to various causes, the tragedy has brought into sharp focus the urgent need for better safety infrastructure and crisis preparedness in one of India’s most spiritually significant yet logistically challenging regions.
As the investigation unfolds, grieving families and safety advocates await concrete action to ensure that the sacred journey to Kedarnath and other Himalayan shrines is no longer shadowed by preventable loss.