Uttarakhand's Helicopter Crashes: A Growing Concern
There were reports of accidents throughout the third Sunday of June. There was news of the crash of the helicopter returning from Kedarnath in the morning. Somewhere houses collapsed and somewhere some people lost their lives due to bridge collapse. The reasons behind the accidents may be different, but the lives of common people ended and the entire family was in shock. Accidents happen only when there is negligence from top to bottom. Where the administration and management should be present, they are nowhere to be seen. The greed of private companies is also responsible for accidents to a large extent.
In Uttarakhand, it is difficult to control the frequent helicopter accidents. Despite all the air service rules and strict instructions of the government, air accidents are happening continuously. In the last 45 days of the Uttarakhand Chardham Yatra, five helicopter accidents have taken place, including crash landings and emergency landings. At least 13 people have been killed and several others injured. After the death of 270 people in the plane crash in Ahmedabad, the country has not yet fully recovered. Uttarakhand is becoming the 'crash capital' due to frequent helicopter crash accidents after the Uttarakhand Chardham Yatra started on April 30. On June 15, 7 people, including the pilot, died in a helicopter crash in Gaurikund.
The accident took place when the helicopter was flying from Kedarnath to Guptkashi, but due to bad weather near Gaurikund, the helicopter crashed and 7 people died. Even before this, other operated helicopters have crashed or crash landing in the Chardham Yatra. On May 8, 2025, a helicopter of Crystal Aviation crashed near Gangnani in Uttarkashi district. The helicopter was on its way from Kharshali to Jhala. Passengers from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh were going to visit Gangotri Dham sitting in the helicopter. Six people, including the pilot, were killed in this accident, while one person was injured.
On June 7, a helicopter of Crystal Aviation crashed on the highway while flying from Badasu helipad to Kedarnath Dham helipad. Thankfully, nothing happened to the helicopter and anyone on the highway in this crash landing. However, due to this crash landing, the rear part of the helicopter was damaged as well as a car parked on the highway. There were 7 people in the helicopter, including the pilot, during this accident. Following the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) banned Crystal Aviation's helicopter operations till further orders. These accidents show that there is no check on the airlines operating the flights.
There is no limit on the number of flights they can operate in a day. No rules are being followed as to how many passengers can board a helicopter. No lessons are being learnt from one incident after another. There can be many reasons behind helicopter crashes in Uttarakhand. The helicopters flying in Chardham are of single engine. Helicopters have to fly in inaccessible and vulnerable hills. Bad weather is also a major cause of accidents. Helicopters are constantly flown for business. SOPs are not followed. The maintenance of the helicopter is also negligible. The DGCA and the state government have become strict after the frequent helicopter accidents.
An Integrated Command Centre will soon be set up in Dehradun for helicopter services and flying in the state. The frequent accidents in Uttarakhand could have been prevented if the rules were strictly followed instead of papers. In such a situation, the question is not only on helicopter companies, but also on those who make the rules.
Strict instructions are issued after every accident. Bad weather was cited as the reason behind the Gaurikund accident. The pilots killed in the accident were also very experienced but the question is why was the flight allowed despite bad weather. It has already been observed that the companies providing helicopter services are not adhering to the prescribed standards. These companies have already been fined for negligence, but the cost of human life cannot be a penalty.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, taking serious note of the accident, has directed to keep the heli service completely closed and resume the helicopter service only after discussions with all the heli operators, including checking the flying experience of the pilots in the Himalayan region. The companies operating the flights should be investigated honestly and seriously so that precious lives of people can be saved. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, Congress leaders Sanjay Gandhi, Madhavrao Scindia, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Rajasekhara Reddy, Arunachal Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, former Lok Sabha Speaker GMC Balayogi and well-known businessman OP Jindal were killed in the helicopter crash. Many leaders have lost their lives but alas, no concrete steps are taken to make air travel safer. If this continues, the airlines will lose their credibility and trust completely.