Uttarakhand Helicopter Tragedy: 7 Dead in Kedarnath-Gaurikund Crash

A devastating helicopter crash early Sunday morning claimed seven lives in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district. The chopper, operated by Aryan Aviation, was en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi when it lost contact with authorities and crashed near Gaurikund, a base point for the Kedarnath pilgrimage. The incident is believed to have occurred amid poor weather conditions in the region.

The helicopter took off from the Kedarnath helipad around 5:20 am. Shortly after takeoff, it went off the radar, prompting a swift search operation. Rescue teams later discovered the wreckage near the dense forest terrain close to Gaurikund.

All seven onboard, including the pilot and six passengers, were killed in the crash. The deceased have been identified as:

• Captain Rajveer Singh Chauhan (Pilot)

• Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41),

• Shradha Rajkumar Jaiswal (35),

• Kashi (2-year-old infant) – All from Maharashtra

• Vikram (46) – Resident of Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand

• Vinod Dev (66) and Tusti Singh (29) – Both from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh

Local authorities and disaster response teams rushed to the site. Preliminary reports suggest adverse weather and low visibility may have contributed to the crash, but an official investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and state authorities is now underway.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep condolences and assured that the government would provide all necessary support to the victims’ families. He also emphasized the need for a thorough review of aviation operations in high-altitude pilgrimage zones.

This incident raises renewed concerns over the safety protocols of helicopter services operating in the Char Dham Yatra, especially during unpredictable weather windows.