A helicopter crashed in a remote area of Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district on Sunday morning, killing all seven people on board.
The helicopter, which was flying from Kedarnath to Guptkashi, went down between Gaurikund and Trijuginarayan in the Kedarghati region shortly after takeoff.
The crash site, located above the dense forests of Gaurikund, was difficult to access and rescue efforts were hampered by poor visibility due to bad weather conditions. The aircraft caught fire upon impact, leaving no survivors.
Local authorities and disaster response teams were quickly dispatched to the scene to carry out recovery operations. The victims included the pilot and several passengers, among them a family traveling with a young child.
This tragic accident follows a series of recent helicopter incidents in the region, raising concerns over the safety of aerial operations in Uttarakhand`s challenging terrain and unpredictable weather conditions.
In response to the increasing number of accidents, the state administration has initiated steps to tighten safety protocols.
Authorities have ordered the preparation of a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure thorough technical inspections of helicopters and mandatory weather assessments before each flight.
A committee of experts is being formed to oversee these safety measures and improve the overall security of helicopter services in the region.
