On June 16, 2025, a tragic helicopter crash near Gaurikund on the Kedarnath route claimed the lives of eight people, including seven pilgrims. According to media reports, dense cloud cover, sudden wind shifts, and the pilot’s loss of visibility in the final moments are considered the primary causes of the accident. Preliminary investigations have also revealed that despite poor weather conditions, the flight clearance was not revoked. Notably, this is the third major crash on the same route in the past four years.
While the growing number of pilgrims during the Char Dham Yatra has made heli-services more convenient, lapses in safety standards have increasingly put lives at risk. Experts have long warned that unless real-time weather sensors, strict flight Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and annual airworthiness audits are made mandatory on high-altitude helicopter routes, such incidents will continue to occur.
The state government has ordered a magisterial inquiry and immediate review of licenses of all heli-operators. However, the real challenge lies in effectively implementing these recommendations on the ground—so that this journey of faith remains both safe and trustworthy for pilgrims.
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