Uttarakhand Govt Grounds Helicopter Services After Kedarnath Crash; Command Centre Announced In Dehradun

In the wake of the tragic helicopter crash near Gaurikund that claimed seven lives, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced the establishment of a centralised command and coordination centre in Dehradun to oversee real-time helicopter operations in the state.

The move comes as part of sweeping safety measures after the fifth air incident since the Char Dham Yatra began on 30 April, reported Hindustan Times.

“The centralised command and coordination centre will include representatives from the DGCA, the disaster management department, civil aviation ministry, Uttarakhand civil aviation development authority and private heli operator companies,” Dhami said following a high-level review meeting.

The Bell 407 chopper, operated by Aryan Aviation, was flying from Kedarnath to Guptkashi when it crashed around 5:30 am amid poor visibility. A detailed investigation will be carried out by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau to determine the cause.

In the interim, Aryan Aviation's services have been suspended with immediate effect and all heli-operations in the Kedarnath region have been put on hold.

“During this period, experience of all pilots and helicopter operators operating in high Himalayan regions will be thoroughly assessed. Services will resume only after a comprehensive review meeting with all heli operators,” the CM added.

“Only those pilots with long-standing experience in high-altitude Himalayan flights will be granted permission to operate.”

An FIR has been filed at the Sonprayag police station against Aryan Aviation officials Kaushik Pathak and Vikas Tomar under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant sections of the Vayuyan Act.

Veteran pilots have called for urgent corrective action, cautioning that repeated accidents suggest deeper issues beyond just adverse weather. “We can’t keep blaming the weather. It’s quite possible that SOPs are being flouted,” warned Captain Sandeep Soti, who had earlier served as the Uttarakhand chief of flight safety.

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