Kedarnath: Missing Helicopter In Gaurikund With 6 Onboard Crashes, Casualties Likely
Uttarakhand Helicopter Crash: A helicopter with six people on board, which had gone missing earlier in Gaurikund, crashed on Sunday morning. Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) informed that the helicopter was going from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, was reported to have crashed near Gaurikund.
#BREAKING : केदारनाथ में एक और हेलीकॉप्टर क्रैश, गौरीकुंड के पास हादसा, 5 लोग हेलीकॉप्टर में थे सवार #Kedarnath #HelicopterCrash | #ZeeNews @akhileshanandd @_poojaLive pic.twitter.com/Jg0lJBVFfS
— Zee News (@ZeeNews) June 15, 2025
UCADA added that the six passengers included the pilot, five adults, and one child. They were from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Rescue operations at the site were also underway.
UCADA said, “Today, at around 5:20 am, a helicopter, which was going from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, has been reported to have crashed near Gaurikund. There were six passengers, including the pilot (5 adults and 1 child). The passengers in the helicopter are from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. In view of relief and rescue, NDRF and SDRF teams have been dispatched to the site of the incident.”
Uttarakhand helicopter crash | Today, at around 5:20 am, a helicopter, which was going from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, has been reported to have crashed near Gaurikund. There were six passengers, including the pilot (5 adults and 1 child). The passengers in the helicopter… pic.twitter.com/AVGtuxWKGj
— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2025
According to ANI, Uttarakhand ADG Law and Order, Dr. V Murugeshan, said, “A helicopter going from Dehradun to Kedarnath has gone missing in Gaurikund. The helicopter went missing between Trijuginarayan and Gaurikund.”
Inspector General (Garhwal Range) Rajiv Swaroop said, “The helicopter that crashed had taken off for Gaurikund after taking devotees to Kedarnath. There were seven people on board. The place where this accident took place is a very remote area. Police and SDRF teams have left for the spot.”
The helicopter of Aryan Company took off from Kedarnath for Guptkashi.
Speaking to ANI, Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said, “A helicopter of Aryan Company took off from Kedarnath around 5 am for Guptkashi. But it crashed on the way, near Gaurikund. This place is a 7 km trekking route. NDRF and SDRF teams have been sent there… According to the information received from locals, there is no possibility of anyone surviving.”
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has reacted to the crash and informed that the incident is of Rudraprayag district. He added that the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF), local administration, and other rescue teams are conducting rescue operations.
जनपद रुद्रप्रयाग में हेलीकॉप्टर के दुर्घटनाग्रस्त होने का अत्यंत दुःखद समाचार प्राप्त हुआ है। एसडीआरएफ, स्थानीय प्रशासन एवं अन्य रेस्क्यू दल राहत एवं बचाव कार्यों में जुटे हैं।
बाबा केदार से सभी यात्रियों के सकुशल होने की कामना करता हूँ।
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) June 15, 2025
The news agency also informed about the instructions issued by CM Dhami regarding helicopter operations. He has instructed that a strict SOP should be prepared for the operation of heli services in the state, in which a complete check of the technical condition of the helicopter and taking accurate weather information before the flight should be made mandatory.
Constitution Of Committee
CM Dhami has also directed the Chief Secretary to constitute a committee of technical experts, which will prepare the SOP after a thorough review of all the technical and safety aspects of heli operations. This committee will ensure that the operation of heli services is completely safe, transparent, and as per the prescribed standards.
(with ANI inputs)
