Two-year-old, 5 others killed in India helicopter crash
By Jeffrey Agbo
Seven people have been confirmed dead after a helicopter crashed in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, authorities have announced.
The helicopter was en route from Kedarnath, one of the sacred sites on the Char Dham Hindu pilgrimage trail in the Himalayan region, according to local media. The aircraft went down near Gaurikund, a mountainous area frequently used by pilgrims.
Rescue teams were swiftly deployed to the crash site, and local police helped retrieve the bodies. Among the deceased were the pilot and a two-year-old child, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been tasked with investigating the incident.
India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that the helicopter—a Bell 407 operated by Aryan Aviation with registration number VT-BKA—took off just after 05:15 local time on Sunday. There were five passengers, including a child, and one crew member onboard. The flight was heading toward Guptkashi, another prominent stop for pilgrims in the region.
“At around 05:00, we got the information that a helicopter, which was going from Shri Kedarnath Dham, could not be located,” said the CEO of Uttarakhand’s Civil Aviation Department.
Shortly afterward, it was confirmed that the helicopter had crashed.
The state’s chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, expressed sorrow over the tragedy in a post on X, calling it “very sad news.” He added that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local officials, and rescue teams were actively involved in relief efforts.
Dhami also ordered a formal investigation into the cause of the crash.
According to Bansidhar Tripathi, the director-general of information for Uttarakhand, this was not an isolated incident. “Three emergency landings and two helicopter crashes in the past month and a half” have occurred along the Char Dham Yatra route, he said.
In response, a high-level meeting of state officials has suspended all helicopter services to the pilgrimage sites until Monday. Flights will only resume after a thorough review with all operators and an assessment of pilot experience in high-altitude Himalayan conditions.
Dhami said a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) would be implemented, including the creation of a unified command and coordination center in Dehradun for improved oversight and safety.
“The negligence at whatever level has been committed will be identified and punitive action will be ensured,” the chief minister added.
He also directed Rudraprayag’s district administration to reach out to the victims’ families and ensure the prompt return of their bodies to their home states.
The crash comes days after more than 200 persons were killed after an India Air flight heading to London crashed shortly after take-off.
