Helicopter Crash Near Kedarnath Kills 7 Including 2 Children, Raises Safety Concerns Yet Again

A tragic helicopter crash near Kedarnath claimed the lives of seven people, including two children, early Sunday morning around 5:20 AM. The helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation, was carrying pilgrims from the Kedarnath temple to Gaurikund when it crashed into the Sonprayag forest area. Initial reports suggest that poor weather conditions and overloading may have contributed to the accident. The pilot, identified as Rajiv, was attempting to steer the aircraft out of the valley when the mishap occurred.The deceased passengers hailed from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. This marks the fourth helicopter-related accident in the Char Dham region within the past 45 days. In response, DGCA and the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority have temporarily suspended all helicopter services for the Char Dham Yatra until further notice.Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the incident and emphasized the need for strict enforcement of aviation safety regulations. Questions are being raised over the lack of oversight, use of single-engine helicopters, and possible violation of passenger capacity norms. Rescue and search operations led by SDRF and local authorities are ongoing. An official inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the crash.

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