logo
5 crashes in 6 weeks expose gaps in Uttarakhand's chopper safety

5 crashes in 6 weeks expose gaps in Uttarakhand's chopper safety

Time of India15-06-2025
1
2
Dehradun/New Delhi: Manoj Sharma doesn't fly by the book in the Kedarnath sector — he flies by sight, by wind, by instinct. "We are flying in one of the world's most unforgiving regions with very little real-time weather support," he said.
"Operations in such large numbers are being conducted on pilot observation and visual reference. The weather is very unpredictable and changes very rapidly."
That reality, long known to those in the cockpit, now has the country's attention. In just six weeks, Uttarakhand has recorded five helicopter accidents — two of them fatal, others involving emergency landings and rotor damage — all on the Kedar route. In one case, a Kestrel Aviation helicopter crash-landed near a road after a mechanical failure, injuring the pilot and damaging a vehicle.
This is not an outlier year. In 2022, an Aryan Aviation chopper crashed near Kedarnath, killing seven. In 2023, Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) finance controller Amit Saini died after being struck by a tail rotor. And in 2013, a military rescue helicopter went down during flood relief, killing 20.
The terrain is tough — but it is not the only challenge. The system built to manage it is, in many ways, still catching up to the traffic it supports.
Pilgrimage flights have surged over the past decade, but the region lacks a dedicated air traffic control network.
"There is no ATC control nor any weather station in these areas," said a veteran pilot. "Flying in the narrow valley from Gaurikund to Kedarnath needs a lot of experience and safety awareness, as there are no landing sites on this stretch that can be used in an emergency or bad weather." Another pilot added, "There is no information provided on routes where major helicopter operations take place.
Till such time these issues can't be addressed, these operations should immediately be stopped.
"
This month, the civil aviation ministry suspended Aryan Aviation from Char Dham operations and grounded two TransBharat pilots who flew in unsuitable weather, suspending their licences for six months.
UCADA — established by the state in 2013 to oversee civil aviation development and safety, including helipad infrastructure and coordination with private operators — has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive review with all operators and setting up a command-and-control room to monitor real-time risks.
DGCA has deployed officers to oversee safety, airworthiness and the functioning of the control centre.
But many in the sector say these moves fall short. "It seems there are no checks and balances in place," said one chopper operator. "There is someone who replaced one inoperative part on a chopper with another inoperative part from another chopper to show that the part has been changed. Because of unscrupulous operators, conscientious operators and passengers are suffering."
Others point to a deeper culture of pressure and compromise. "There have been five chopper crashes in the country within the last 1.5 months, which is the worst we have ever seen in helicopter operations in our country," said a senior pilot. "Char Dham operations are one of the toughest... yet we still fly as if nothing needs fixing."
Another pilot was more direct: "We need a complete stop on chopper operations for this yatra season. All stakeholders — owners, pilots, commercial, engineers, DGCA and UCADA — need to look within and change." One added, simply, "It's greed. That's what's driving this. Not safety."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

BJP government in Uttarakhand promoting VIP culture: Congress
BJP government in Uttarakhand promoting VIP culture: Congress

The Hindu

time16-07-2025

  • The Hindu

BJP government in Uttarakhand promoting VIP culture: Congress

The Congress on Wednesday (July 16, 2025) slammed the BJP government in Uttarakhand for promoting VIP culture in the State after Chairman of Badri-Kedar temple Committee (BKTC) took a chopper to Kedarnath despite suspension of services due to bad weather. As per reports, BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi, along with three other persons, took a chopper to Kedarnath on July 14. Heritage aviation had organised the chopper ride. After the matter was reported to officials, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) ordered an investigation. Sources in the department confirmed that the aviation firm was informed about the guidelines of the Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA), which has totally shut the shuttle services in the Kedar valley due to the weather conditions, while the chopper services of Char Dham are allowed but that too with the riders of weather being suitable for the flight. UCADA CEO Ashish Chauhan told The Hindu that a notice had been issued to the aviation firm. 'After around half a dozen chopper accidents took place in the State during the ongoing char dham yatra, the DGCA had issued instructions to Uttarakhand's authorised agency, UCADA, to impose a complete ban on air services during the rainy season. But BKTC president Hemant Dwivedi has not only flouted the rules by travelling to Kedarnath by helicopter, but once again openly supported the VIP culture,' said Congress spokesperson Garima Dasauni. She said when there was a complete ban on flights for the safety of common devotees, then how and why was this special exemption given to the BKTC president. 'This directly reflects the situation of 'one country, two rules' and is an example of disrespect for government rules,' she added.

Delhi News LIVE: 1 dead after 3-storey building collapses in Bada Hindu Rao; rain likely today
Delhi News LIVE: 1 dead after 3-storey building collapses in Bada Hindu Rao; rain likely today

Indian Express

time11-07-2025

  • Indian Express

Delhi News LIVE: 1 dead after 3-storey building collapses in Bada Hindu Rao; rain likely today

Delhi News LIVE Updates: A 46-year-old man died after a three-storey building collapsed in the Bada Hindu Rao area in the early hours of Friday, a fire services official said. The body of Manoj Sharma was found in the debris, he said, adding a call about the collapse was received at 1.56 am. The body was later sent to Hindu Rao Hospital, where it was declared brought dead. The building housed multiple shops, the Delhi Fire Services official said. An FIR is currently being registered, officials said. Weather today: The city recorded a minimum temperature of 25.6 degrees Celsius Friday, with the weather office predicting thunderstorms and light rain. The relative humidity at 8.30 am was 81 per cent. The maximum temperature is expected to settle around 30 degrees Celsius. Govt plans to build Rs 3,000-crore elevated road over Munak Canal: The Delhi Government is planning to construct a 20-km-long elevated corridor over the Munak Canal from Bawana to Inderlok at Rs 3,000 crore to improve connectivity between North and Northwest Delhi, and take over the maintenance of the canal. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta held a meeting with Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh and senior officials from the Haryana Government, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and other departments to discuss the matter.

6k tickets cancelled, Kedarnath choppers to be grounded till Sept 15
6k tickets cancelled, Kedarnath choppers to be grounded till Sept 15

Time of India

time21-06-2025

  • Time of India

6k tickets cancelled, Kedarnath choppers to be grounded till Sept 15

Dehradun: Chopper operations to Kedarnath remained suspended for the seventh straight day on Saturday after a crash killed seven people on June 15, grounding eight operators, cancelling thousands of bookings and causing financial losses over Rs 4 crore in Rudraprayag district. Sources said helicopter services are expected to resume only around Sept 15, after the end of the monsoon season. District tourism officer Rahul Chaubey said no bookings were made beyond June 22 due to the halt, which was initiated in the wake of monsoon and pending safety directives. Chaubey, who also oversees helicopter services on the Kedarnath route, said, "Around 900 tickets are being cancelled each day as the choppers are not operating since June 15, which means anything between 5,400 to 6,000 tickets have been cancelled in this duration. We are waiting for instructions from U ttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) before proceeding any further." Since the Kedarnath yatra began, 56,044 pilgrims have taken helicopter rides from Guptkashi, Sirsi and Phata, while 54,209 have returned from Kedarnath to these helipads. The June 15 incident was the fifth helicopter-related mishap on the Char Dham route in 45 days. On May 8, six people died in a crash near Gangotri In response to the rising number of crashes, Uttarakhand high court took suo motu cognisance of the June 15 incident and sought a reply from the state on safety lapses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed the implementation of stricter norms, including the deployment of twin-engine helicopters, mandatory real-time weather cameras, and regular fitness checks for choppers. He also ordered a command-and-control centre to be set up in Dehradun. Environmental concerns have also surfaced, with residents and activists flagging the ecological toll of frequent helicopter traffic on the fragile Himalayan region, calling for operations to be suspended until proper safeguards are enforced.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store