Tragic Helicopter Crashed in Kedarnath: 7 Dead, Including a Little Baby Girl

On the morning of 15 June 2025, once again a painful news came from the skies of Uttarakhand, a helicopter crashed in Kedarnath. When a helicopter returning from Kedarnath to Guptkashi crashed. Seven people including six devotees and a pilot died in this accident. This accident is not just an accident, but raises big questions on the air safety system during the Chardham Yatra.

How did the accident happen?

The helicopter of Aryan Aviation took off from Kedarnath at around 5:20 am and was heading towards Guptkashi. The weather suddenly deteriorated midway. According to the information, the pilot tried to take the helicopter out of the valley, but due to poor visibility and technical problems, it crashed in a forest between Gaurikund and Sonprayag.

The accident was so horrific that the bodies of all the passengers on board the helicopter were badly burnt. Identification of all will be possible only after DNA testing.

Who were among the dead?

A total of seven people were killed in the accident, including the pilot Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan (39 years), a resident of Jaipur, Rajasthan. The remaining six passengers were devotees, including:

Three members of the Jaiswal family from Yavatmal in Maharashtra – Rajkumar Jaiswal, his wife Shraddha and 23-month-old daughter Kashi.

Their son Vivaan survived because he was staying with his grandfather.

66-year-old Vinod Devi and 19-year-old Trishti Singh from Uttar Pradesh also became victims of the accident.

A BKTC employee Vikram Rawat from Ukhimath in Uttarakhand was also on board.

Relief and Rescue operations

Local people who had gone out to collect fodder for their cattle were the first to see the crash site and informed the authorities. After this, NDRF and SDRF teams reached Gaurikund at 7 am and rescue operations started by walking to the spot from 8:55 am. All the bodies have been recovered.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered a two-day suspension of helicopter services. “The services will remain suspended until the safety of pilgrims is fully ensured. The life of every pilgrim is of paramount importance to us,” he said.

Increasing series of helicopter accidents

This is the fifth helicopter crash in Kedarnath this season. 13 people have lost their lives since the opening of the gates on May 2. On June 7 alone, another helicopter was landed on the highway due to a technical fault, with its tail rotor falling on a car parked nearby. Fortunately, no lives were lost in that accident.

This increasing series of incidents has raised questions about the quality of air service operations, training, weather information systems and the technical condition of helicopters during the Chardham Yatra.

The serious state of air safety in India was highlighted

The recent Air India incident in Ahmedabad.

Meanwhile, an Air India incident involving Ahmedabad also happened recently. On 12 June 2025, Air India flight AI‑171 (Boeing 787‑8) lost control soon after taking off from Ahmedabad and collided with the doctor-student hostel of B.J. Medical College in Meghnagar. The collision was accompanied by a massive explosion, killing several people. Read More…

These two incidents, the Uttarakhand helicopter crash and the Ahmedabad Air India technical glitch, point to the fact that air safety in India now needs to be improved in depth, not by superficial measures.

Strict steps from the government

Chief Minister Dhami has ordered a detailed investigation from the DGCA and AAIB. Also, he said that now a strict SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) will be made for helicopter operations, in which:

Technical check of the helicopter will be mandatory.

It will be mandatory to get correct weather information before flying.

A command and control center will be set up.

The DGCA has currently reduced the number of helicopter flights on the Chardham route and implemented increased surveillance.

Reaction of the public and leaders

Leaders from across the country have expressed their condolences. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described the accident as “extremely sad and unbearable”.

On social media, the general public has also expressed grief and demanded that the safety of the devotees should never be compromised, even if it affects the pace of the journey.

Tribute and prayers for the peace of the soul

This accident is not only the result of a technical failure, but also the end of the journey of those innocent devotees who had set out only to have the darshan of God. The entire nation is in mourning due to the sudden death of an innocent girl, her parents, an elderly woman, a young student, a dedicated employee and a courageous pilot.

We all pray for the peace of those departed souls.

May God give them a place in his feet and give strength to their families to bear this unbearable loss. Om Shanti 🙏

Attention Please: If you are also planning a trip to Uttarakhand or air travel, then be alert, get information about the weather and give priority to safe means. Along with devotion, safety is also equally important.

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