The helicopter, carrying pilgrims, crashed right after the takeoff from the Kedarnath shrine around Garud Chatti in Rudraprayag at around 11.40 am, officials stated.
Bell 407 helicopter crashed in Kedarnath
In a tragic incident, an Aryan Aviation-operated Bell 407 helicopter crashed in Kedarnath today October 18, 2022. All 7 people, including 6 pilgrims and 1 pilot, were killed in the incident.
While Kedarnath is a popular pilgrimage where people go to worship Lord Shiva, the location is such that one can’t go by road to the shrine. Historically, the journey was traveled by foot, spanning over several days.
Visuals from the spot showed a massive plume of smoke. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the district police are carrying out a joint search and rescue operation at the accident site.
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed his anguish over the incident and stated they are in constant touch with the state government.
However, with the introduction of helicopter services, it has become easier for people to reach the shrine within a few minutes, finishing the whole journey in one day.
Also, read
- American Airlines build a $250m 600-room hotel in Dallas for employees
- Boeing does not expect the FAA to approve the Max 10 before summer 2023
- Singapore Airlines in talks with Tata Group over Vistara and Air India merger | EXCLUSIVE
Directorate General of Civil Aviation
This convenience factor has led to an increased frequency of helicopter services, which has resulted in a handful of crashes over the years. Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) has declared a probe into the incident, but this is not the 1st time a chopper has crashed in Kedarnath.
Kedarnath Helicopter crash incidents
2013 – 21st June: Chopper deployed for rescue operations crashes in Uttarakhand, both pilots were reported safe. A helicopter of private carrier Prabhatam Aviation crashed while on its way to Gaurikund during a rescue operation.
2013 June: 3 choppers crashed while conducting rescue operations during the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy. As many as 23 people including Air Force personnel were killed in the crashes.
24th July 2013: The pilot and the co-pilot of a private chopper were killed as it crashed minutes after taking off from flood-hit Kedarnath in Uttarakhand.
2018 – 3rd April 2018: One person was killed and three others injured when an Indian Air Force (IAF) cargo helicopter caught fire while landing in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath.
2019 – Sept 23rd, 2019: Helicopter crash-lands in Kedarnath, all six passengers safe.
2022– after the incident, the relief and rescue teams swung into action. Following the unfortunate incident around Garud Chatti and jungle Chattin in Rudraprayag District.
After the incident, President Droupadi Murmu, CM Pushkar Dhami, and Aviation Minister shared their condolences. The helicopter in the incident was operated by Aryan Aviation and DGCA has declared a probe into the incident.
Thank you
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
