Aircraft carried faithful to the Kedarnath Sanctuary; Flights were suspended and government analyzes security measures in Himalaia
A helicopter fell on Sunday (15.jun.2025) in the Himalayan region of northern India and left 7 dead, according to local authorities. The aircraft was carrying pilgrims on a religious route between the Kedarnath Sanctuary and the city of Guptkashi, in the state of Uttarakhand.
Among the victims are 5 faithful, a member of the Temple Committee and the pilot. According to State Director-General Bansidhar Tripathi, the accident was caused by bad weather conditions. The helicopter flying under intense fog at the time of the fall.
Uttarakhand’s chief minister, I, regretted the accident in a publication on the X (former Twitter) and said a meeting was called to review the security protocols. “All procedures of helicopter operations are being reevaluated carefully”he declared.
During the meeting, the state government ordered the full suspension of flights to Char Dham’s pilgrimage sites by Monday (16.Jun). The resumption of operations will depend on a new meeting with the operating companies and the verification of the experience of riders on flights in mountainous regions.
Authorities were also advised to elaborate new SOPS (standard operating procedures) for flights in the state. In addition, a common center for command and coordination in Dehradun will be created, with representatives of the DGCA (Directorate-General of Civil Aviation), the Department of Disaster, Civil Aviation and the helicopter operators.
The objective, according to the minister, is to ensure coordination in air operations.
