Uttarakhand to Revamp Helicopter Safety Protocols After Kedarnath Crash
Following the fatal helicopter crash near Kedarnath, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered a high-level review to establish a strict Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for all heli-services in the state. The new SOP will mandate thorough technical checks of helicopters and weather assessments before operations. A committee of technical experts will be formed to ensure heli-services are safe, transparent, and adhere to prescribed standards, investigating past accidents as well.
Unpacked:
Preliminary investigations indicate that the crash was primarily due to adverse weather conditions and zero visibility. The helicopter reportedly flew into dense fog, leading to a loss of control and ultimately crashing near Gaurikund. The pilot attempted to navigate out of the valley but was unsuccessful.
All seven people on board died in the crash, including a family from Maharashtra (Rajkumar Jaiswal, Shraddha Jaiswal, and their 23-month-old daughter), an ex-Army pilot (Rajbeer Singh Chauhan), a temple committee employee, and two other pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh.
This crash marks the fifth helicopter incident in Uttarakhand in the last six weeks, highlighting concerns about the frequency of such accidents in the region, especially given the difficult terrain and unpredictable weather around pilgrimage sites like Kedarnath.
Rescue and relief operations were promptly launched by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and local administration. All bodies were recovered, and DNA tests are being conducted for identification before releasing the remains to families. Helicopter services in the area were also halted for two days for safety reviews.