A tragic helicopter crash near a Hindu pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand, northern India, has claimed the lives of all seven people on board, including a child and the pilot, local authorities confirmed.
The helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation, was ferrying pilgrims from Kedarnath to Guptkashi on the morning of Sunday, June 15, when it crashed near Gaurikund in the Rudraprayag district. It lost contact with air traffic control shortly after departing from Dehradun and was later found wrecked in a remote mountainous area between Trijuginarayan and Gaurikund.
Inspector General of Police Nilesh Bharne confirmed the crash occurred around 5:20 a.m. The victims, from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, were burned beyond recognition due to a fire that broke out after the impact.
Preliminary reports suggest technical failure and poor weather may have caused the crash. A formal investigation is underway.
The incident follows a separate aviation tragedy in Gujarat just days earlier, in which an Air India flight crashed into a residential area, killing over 270 people.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow and said rescue efforts, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), are ongoing. “The extremely distressing news of a helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district has been received,” he posted on X.
Officials have announced a review of helicopter operations in the region, which sees heavy use during the annual Char Dham Yatra. The Kedarnath route, known for its treacherous terrain and unpredictable weather, has seen multiple incidents this season.
This marks the fifth helicopter-related incident on the Kedarnath route in 2025. Earlier this month, six passengers narrowly escaped after a different helicopter made an emergency landing in the same district.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has previously suspended services and enforced stricter safety rules in the area, especially after a deadly crash in October 2022 that also killed seven people.