Helicopter crashes or emergency landings are occurring at an alarming frequency on the Chardham yatra route in Uttarakhand.
Seven people were killed on Sunday after a helicopter crashed near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand amid poor visibility. A couple and their two-year-old daughter hailing from Yavatmal in Maharashtra were among the seven persons killed in the crash. This is the fifth major accident in the last six weeks in Uttarakhand.
5 Cases In 6 Weeks
Helicopter crashes or emergency landings are occurring at an alarming frequency on the Chardham yatra route in Uttarakhand. The Chardham yatra involves Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri shrines.
On June 7, a helicopter going to Kedarnath had to make an emergency landing on the road due to a technical fault soon after take-off in which the pilot was injured but the five devotees on board were rescued safely.
On June 7, a helicopter going to Kedarnath had to make an emergency landing on the road due to a technical fault soon after take-off in which the pilot was injured but the five devotees on board were rescued safely.
The helicopter had made a hard landing on a road close to populated buildings. The helicopter’s tail rotor had hit a parked car.
On May 8, a helicopter going to Gangotri Dham crashed in Uttarkashi district in which six people were killed. The chopper was on its way to Gangotri temple crashed near Gangnani in Uttarkashi district.
On May 12, a helicopter returning from Badrinath to Sersi with pilgrims on board had to make an emergency landing in a school playground in Ukhimath due to poor visibility. All pilgrims were safe. The helicopter took off again after about an hour when the weather improved.
On May 17, a heli ambulance from AIIMS Rishikesh crash-landed near the Kedarnath helipad in Uttarakhand due to damage to its rear part. Fortunately, all three occupants on board – a doctor, a pilot, and a medical staff member – escaped unharmed.
CM Holds Emergency Meeting, Helicopter Services Suspended
In the wake of series of such incidents, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held an emergency meeting on Sunday and asked senior officials of the state to prepare a strict SOP (standard operating procedure) for heli services in the state, making a thorough check of the technical condition of the choppers mandatory. Further, helicopter services on the Chardham yatra route were suspended for two days on Sunday
The Uttarakhand chief secretary has been directed to constitute a committee of technical experts, which will prepare the SOP after thoroughly reviewing all technical and safety aspects of heli operations. Weather status should also be checked before heli operations.
On May 12, a helicopter returning from Badrinath to Sersi with pilgrims on board had to make an emergency landing in a school playground in Ukhimath due to poor visibility. All pilgrims were safe. The helicopter took off again after about an hour when the weather improved.
On May 17, a heli ambulance from AIIMS Rishikesh crash-landed near the Kedarnath helipad in Uttarakhand due to damage to its rear part. Fortunately, all three occupants on board – a doctor, a pilot, and a medical staff member – escaped unharmed.
CM Holds Emergency Meeting, Helicopter Services Suspended
In the wake of series of such incidents, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held an emergency meeting on Sunday and asked senior officials of the state to prepare a strict SOP (standard operating procedure) for heli services in the state, making a thorough check of the technical condition of the choppers mandatory. Further, helicopter services on the Chardham yatra route were suspended for two days on Sunday
The Uttarakhand chief secretary has been directed to constitute a committee of technical experts, which will prepare the SOP after thoroughly reviewing all technical and safety aspects of heli operations. Weather status should also be checked before heli operations.