Kedarnath Helicopter Crash: 7 Dead in Tragic Chopper Incident Near Gaurikund

Chopper Loses Contact Shortly After Takeoff

In a tragic incident early Sunday morning, seven people lost their lives. An Aryan Aviation helicopter crashed near Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. The helicopter was en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi and lost contact with air traffic control around 5:20 AM.

All Passengers Confirmed Dead

State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Inspector Anirudh Bhandari confirmed the deaths of all seven onboard. They included the pilot, five passengers, and an infant. The victims have been identified as:

Captain Rajveer Singh Chauhan (Pilot)
Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41), Shradha Jaiswal (35), and their infant Kashi (23 months) – from Maharashtra
Vikram (46) – from Rudraprayag
Vinod Dev (66) and Tusti Singh (29) – from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh

Crash Linked to Poor Weather Conditions

The helicopter encountered poor visibility due to adverse weather conditions in the Gaurikund forest region. According to District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar, this caused the pilot to lose control. Eyewitnesses near Gaurikund reported seeing smoke, helping authorities trace the crash site.

The crash occurred in a remote mountainous region, making rescue efforts challenging. Teams from SDRF, NDRF, and local police reached the site soon after the incident.

Fifth Helicopter Incident on Char Dham Route in 40 Days

This marks the fifth chopper-related incident on the Char Dham pilgrimage route in under two months. This pattern raises serious concerns over aviation safety in the region.

Also read: Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing on Highway En Route to Kedarnath, All Passengers Safe

Official Reactions and Investigation

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief on social media, stating:

“Very sad news has been received about a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district. Relief and rescue teams are on site.”

An official investigation has begun to determine the exact cause of the crash. Initial findings suggest that sudden weather changes played a key role.

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