A helicopter crash at a Hindu pilgrimage site in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand has killed seven people, including a child and the pilot, according to local authorities and media reports.
The helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation, was transporting pilgrims from Kedarnath to Guptkashi when it went down early Sunday, June 15, near Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district. The aircraft lost contact with air traffic control shortly after taking off from Dehradun, and was later found crashed in a mountainous area between Trijuginarayan and Gaurikund.
Nilesh Bharne, Inspector General of Police for Law and Order, confirmed that the crash occurred around 5:20 a.m. and all seven people on board were killed. The victims included pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Their bodies were severely burned due to a fire that followed the impact.
Initial reports suggest the crash may have been caused by a combination of technical failure and adverse weather conditions, though a formal investigation is underway.
The incident comes just days after a separate aviation disaster in Gujarat, where an Air India flight crashed into a residential building, killing at least 270 people.
In response to the helicopter crash, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed sorrow and said rescue teams, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), had been deployed to the site. “The extremely distressing news of a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district has been received,” he posted on X. “Rescue operations are ongoing.”
Authorities have also announced a review of helicopter flight operations in the region. The pilgrimage route to Kedarnath, one of Hinduism’s holiest shrines, is known for its difficult terrain and volatile weather. Helicopter services are commonly used by pilgrims during the annual Char Dham Yatra, which began in early May.
This marks the fifth helicopter-related incident on the Kedarnath route this season. Earlier in June, six passengers survived an emergency landing after another helicopter encountered difficulties in Rudraprayag.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has previously suspended operators and tightened regulations over safety concerns in the area. Fatal crashes have occurred before on this route, most notably in October 2022, when another helicopter crash claimed seven lives.
