Latest news with #Rudraprayag
Deccan Herald
03-07-2025
- Deccan Herald
Landslide near Sonprayag; Kedarnath yatra temporarily suspended
#WATCH | The road is blocked due to debris and stones falling in the Munkatia Sliding Zone under the Sonprayag area. The Kedarnath Dham Yatra has been temporarily halted for now. The Yatra will resume once the road is cleared: Rudraprayag Police, Uttarakhand (Source: Rudraprayag…
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Time of India
Only 24 penalised for tobacco use in Kedarnath this yatra season: RTI
Dehradun: An RTI query has revealed that just 24 people were penalised for smoking or tobacco-related offences near the Kedarnath temple, during the ongoing yatra season, with only Rs 2,200 collected in fines. Noida-based activist Amit Gupta, who filed the RTI, expressed concern over the low number of challans issued until June 15. "For someone spending Rs 500 on cigarettes, a Rs 100 fine is not a big deal. The penalty needs to be increased. The Kedarnath yatra is a spiritual journey, and there should be a prohibition on the consumption of tobacco products," he said. The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) primarily regulates tobacco products and their sale, advertising, and consumption in public places. While the Act does not explicitly mention temples, the provisions regarding public places can be applied to temple premises. Some religious sites, such as the Jagannath temple in Puri, have banned products including tobacco and betel leaves. According to information accessed by TOI through the RTI, during last year's yatra season, 174 challans were issued for violations under COTPA, with Rs 19,850 collected in fines. However, no FIRs were registered. Gupta emphasised the need for stricter enforcement near the temple, noting that despite the spiritual significance of the yatra, tobacco products continue to be sold openly, often at inflated prices. "Even a Rs 15 cigarette is being sold at a price of Rs 50. Though a complete prohibition along the yatra route is not possible, we need authorities to enforce stricter prohibition at least around the Jyotirlinga temple," he said. Rudraprayag SP Akshay Konde said that local teams are enforcing the regulations. However, an official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that without a blanket ban, only public consumption of cigarettes and tobacco can be monitored, not the sale.
Qatar Tribune
15-06-2025
- Climate
- Qatar Tribune
Helicopter crashes in northern India, killing all on board
NEW DELHI: Seven people were killed Sunday morning in a helicopter crash in the mountainous northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. Officer of Rudraprayag's Disaster Management, Nandan Singh Rajwar, told Press Trust of India that the helicopter, which was flying between Kedarnath and Guptkashi, lost contact around 5:20am and crashed shortly after takeoff in Gauri Kund amid adverse weather conditions and low visibility. There were six people on board, in addition to the pilot, all from different Indian states. Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, said in a post on the X platform that emergency response teams, in cooperation with local authorities, are conducting extensive search and rescue operations at the crash site. The incident comes days after another air disaster in India, when an Air India plane crashed while en route from Ahmedabad to London, killing all but one person on board.
Irish Times
15-06-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Seven killed in helicopter crash in northern India
All seven people on a helicopter in northern India were killed early on Sunday when it crashed while ferrying passengers on a popular Hindu pilgrimage route in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, officials said. The helicopter was headed to Guptkashi from the shrine of Kedarnath, said the state's director-general of information, Bansidhar Tripathi. The Uttarakhand government ordered a suspension of helicopter services to Kedarnath Valley until Monday due to bad weather, Mr Tripathi said. There have been three emergency landings and two helicopter crashes on the same route in the past month and a half, he said. 'Very sad news has been received about a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district,' the state's chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, posted on X, adding that the State disaster response force, local administration and other rescue teams were engaged in relief and rescue operations. READ MORE Mr Dhami said in a statement he has ordered an inquiry into the cause of the crash. The authorities will also examine helicopter pilots and operators, and 'only those pilots who have long experience of flying helicopters in high Himalayan regions will be allowed,' he said. Helicopter service for the pilgrimage will resume only after a meeting with all helicopter operators, Mr Dhami said. The Bell 407 helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation, took off at 5.19am (11.49pm on Saturday Irish time), India's ministry of civil aviation said in a statement. Calls to Aryan Aviation seeking comment went unanswered. Hundreds of thousands of people visit Uttarakhand's Himalayan mountains every year, drawn by the belief that deities such as Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu reside here. Kedarnath is a part of the Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage route of four temple towns, which also include Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. India has reduced the frequency of helicopter operations to Char Dham and is enhancing surveillance and reviewing operations for any further action, the aviation ministry said. (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025
Times of Oman
15-06-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
Uttarakhand helicopter crash: Seven passengers onboard feared dead
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India]: Seven passengers onboard a helicopter that crashed near the forested area of Gaurikund in Uttarakhand early on Sunday morning are feared dead, State Disaster Response Force said. According to preliminary information, the helicopter crashed due to bad weather. SDRF and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel are on the spot carrying out relief operations in the area and have been facing challenges as the site of crash is said to be a difficult and inaccessible area. According to the statement by UCADA, the helicopter that crashed around 5:20 am today carried six passengers and a pilot. The passengers in the helicopter hailed from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will investigate Sunday morning's helicopter crash near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag District, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated. The DGCA further said that, in light of the crash, the frequencies of helicopter operations to Char Dham would be reduced as a precautionary measure. Enhanced surveillance and operational reviews are also being carried out by DGCA. "Today, Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter VT-BKA operating flight on sector Shri Kedarnath ji- Aryan Helipad, Guptkanshi, was involved in an accident. There were five passengers, one infant and one crew member on board. The helicopter took off at 05:19 hours for Guptkanshi and crashed near Gaurikund," DGCA said providing details of the crash. Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Department (UCADA), Sonika, stated that helicopter shuttle services in the area had been closed given the ongoing relief operations and weather conditions in the valley. Sonika further stated that the District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) will reach the site soon. "Since the rescue operation is underway and seeing the weather conditions in the valley, our shuttle services have been closed. "At around 5:30 AM, we got the information that a helicopter, which was going from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, could not be located. After some time, it was learnt that it had crashed near Gaurikund. Rescue operation is underway, SDRF teams have reached the spot. A total of 6 passengers and one pilot were on board the helicopter..." she further said.
