Another Tragedy: Helicopter Crash in Uttarakhand Kills Seven, Including Toddler, Amid Bad Weather
Seven people, including a toddler, died when a helicopter carrying Hindu pilgrims crashed in the Himalayas. Authorities confirm bad weather likely caused the accident near Kedarnath temple.
Enet
UTTARAKHAND, INDIA – A tragic helicopter crash on Sunday in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand claimed the lives of seven people, including a toddler, when it went down in poor weather conditions. The crash occurred during a flight from the famous Kedarnath temple, one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in India.
Authorities confirmed that the helicopter, carrying eight people, including the pilot, crashed due to worsening weather conditions. Nandan Singh Rajwar, a disaster response official, stated that all six passengers and the pilot perished in the accident.
The helicopter was carrying Hindu pilgrims on a journey to the Kedarnath shrine, located at an elevation of 3,584 meters (11,759 feet). According to Rahul Chaubey from the state’s tourism department, the bad weather was a likely cause of the crash, which occurred amid the challenging conditions of the Himalayan peaks.
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This incident comes just days after the tragic crash of a passenger plane in Ahmedabad, western India, which resulted in the loss of at least 279 lives.
In response to the recent string of accidents, Indian civil aviation authorities temporarily suspended helicopter trips to the Himalayan shrines to ensure safety. Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, vowed in a message on X (formerly Twitter) that the state would implement "strict safety measures" and enforce "zero tolerance for any compromise with passenger safety."
Pilgrims often use helicopters to reach Kedarnath and other sacred sites quickly, bypassing lengthy treks, especially during the summer months when access is easier. However, the season has been marred by multiple helicopter-related incidents. Just last month, a crash claimed six lives, and earlier this month, another helicopter had to make an emergency landing due to technical issues.
As rescue operations continue, the local government is reviewing the safety protocols surrounding these crucial pilgrimage routes.
