A helicopter carrying pilgrims from the Kedarnath shrine crashed early Sunday in the forests of Gaurikund amid poor visibility, killing all seven people on board. This is the fifth helicopter accident on the Chardham yatra route since the pilgrimage started on April 30.

Chopper services to Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand have been temporarily suspended due to safety concerns in the wake of a horrific helicopter accident.

As per the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, an Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter that was operating in the sector “Shri Kedarnath Ji – Aryan Helipad, Guptkashi” was involved in an accident.

“There were five passengers, one infant, and one crew member on board,” the Ministry said.

Probable cause

“Preliminary indications suggest that the probable cause may be ‘Controlled Flight into Terrain’ (CFIT), with the helicopter reportedly airborne despite poor visibility and extensive clouding at the valley entry area.”

Besides, the Ministry said that the exact cause of the crash will be determined through a detailed investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

Following the incident, a high-level meeting was convened by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in which operations of Aryan Aviation for the Chardham yatra were suspended with immediate effect.

“All charter and shuttle helicopter operations in the region have been suspended from June 15-16, 2025 as a safety precaution,” it said.

Among other safety-related measures, aviation regulator DGCA was directed to “immediately post officers from ‘airworthiness, safety, and operations’” to actively oversee all helicopter activity in the Kedarnath valley.

At present, the DGCA has stationed a team at Sahastradhara helidrome in Dehradun to monitor chopper operations.

However, this is not the first such incident in this region in the current season. In one such incident, a helicopter crashed close to Gangotri, killing six people, while on May 12, a chopper blade struck a car at Badrinath Helipad.

Sources have alleged that operators overload their helicopters to maximise profits, despite strict safety norms set by the DGCA.

On its part, the DGCA had earlier said that multiple occurrences involving helicopter operations during the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand have underscored the necessity for further strengthening the safety oversight of these operations.

“Safety investigations have been initiated for each of these occurrences to identify contributing factors, including mechanical failures, operational errors, and weather-related challenges.”

The yatra includes pilgrimage to shrines such as Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath between May-June and September-October.

Lately, these helicopter services have grown in popularity, providing a faster and more comfortable option to visit Uttarakhand’s four sacred shrines, as they avoid long overland journeys.

The Chardham pilgrimage can be completed in three to five days by helicopter.

A travel package, according to an industry insider, includes helicopter flights between Dehradun and the four Dhams, VIP temple darshan passes, luxury hotels and meals, ground transportation from helipads to temples, and personalised support.

On average, these services cost from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹10 lakh, depending on the package the pilgrim avails.

Published on June 15, 2025