Latest news with #CharDhamyatra
Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Uttarakhand sets up committee to prepare SOP for safe operation of choppers
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government has set up a committee to prepare standard operating procedures (SOP) for the operation of helicopter service in the state. The committee, which has been constituted against the backdrop of 13 deaths in five incidents involving choppers over the last six weeks, will be headed by state home secretary Shailesh Bagauli. It will submit its report by August 15. Bagauli said the committee will analyse the causes of helicopter accidents and prepare a comprehensive report outlining the necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. It will also come up with recommendations regarding manpower, equipment, and administrative reforms for Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) and review the existing SOPs formulated by the state's aviation authority. The panel is expected to update the SOP and give suggestions to strengthen the weather information and communication system. The committee will also recommend measures to enhance the existing air traffic management system in the state. A Bell 407 helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation, crashed en route to Guptkashi from the Kedarnath shrine on June 15 amid poor visibility in the region. It was the fifth helicopter accident since the Char Dham Yatra began on April 30 this year. The crash highlighted safety concerns over helicopter operations serving the Char Dham pilgrimage route, which includes four sacred Hindu temples. The routes see tens of thousands of pilgrims annually, many using helicopters to navigate the treacherous mountain terrain. According to data released by the state government, 49,247 devotees have used heli services Char Dham yatra this year. Eight companies are operating from nine helipads this season. The civil aviation ministry said preliminary findings suggest 'controlled flight into terrain'. Operations for Aryan Aviation were suspended immediately and an investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) was launched. The other members of the committee are the state's civil aviation secretary, disaster management secretary, chief executive officer of UCADA, executive director, Airspace Management, Government of India, executive Director, Air Traffic Management, Government of India, an official nominated by the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation, an official nominated by AAIB, an official nominated by India Meteorological Department (IMD), and one member each from among operators/pilots nominated by DGCA and UCADA.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Day after chopper crash, Uttarakhand government to resume helicopter services from June 17
A day after seven people, including a two-year-old child and the pilot, were killed in a helicopter crash in Kedarnath valley, the Uttarakhand government decided to resume chopper service for the Char Dham yatra from Tuesday (June 17, 2025). Sonika, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), announced the resumption of helicopter services on Monday (Jun e 16, 2025) evening. The official said that helicopter services will only run if the weather conditions will be favourable. Also, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is going to keep a close watch on all the shuttle services. The chopper services were suspended on Sunday after the helicopter, ferrying pilgrims to Kedarnath temple crashed near Guptkashi during the early hours on Sunday. Among the dead were the pilot who recently became a father of twins, a couple from Maharashtra who were travelling with their two-year-old girl and an elderly woman from Uttar Pradesh who was accompanied by her grand-daughter. Raising queries Meanwhile, concerned over the frequent helicopter accidents in the State, social activists have raised a question over the management of the chopper services. Anoop Nautiyal, founder of the Social Development for Communities Foundation, an NGO working for awareness on social issues in Uttarakhand, in a letter to DGCA, pointed to how the choppers are plying in the State without any air traffic control (ATC), radars or even any real-time weather updates. 'I am a concerned resident of Uttarakhand who is deeply worried about the alarming frequency of helicopter accidents and crashes in our State. Since we have had 5 heli crashes in the past 6 weeks, why can't you simply put a complete stop on helicopter operations for this year's Yatra season? This time should be utilised in preparing the much needed infrastructure for aero safety on the Char Dham Yatra route,' Mr. Nautiyal wrote in the letter. Terming the Kedarnath route as one of the riskiest air corridors in the country, Mr. Nautiyal said that it is a well-known fact that pilots are flying 'blind' in this terrain where the weather can change in the blink of an eye an with no infrastructure and it's suicidal to allow planes to fly in this landscape. 'I hope you, the authorities concerned, will take a decision that is rooted in safety and security and not on the basis of flimsy assurances and formation of yet more committees in the State,' he added.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Delhi pilgrim dies during Yamunotri trek, Char Dham yatra death toll crosses 40
Dehradun: A 46-year-old man from Delhi's Mandoli area died of cardiopulmonary arrest on Tuesday while on the Yamunotri yatra. Shiv Kumar collapsed while taking a selfie around 1km from the Yamunotri shrine. His death marks the 43rd fatality on the Char Dham yatra, which began on April 30. Kumar's family and a health team took him to a community health centre in Janki Chatti, where doctors declared him dead. A school bus driver by profession, Kumar had completed the Char Dham yatra for two consecutive years. This year, he was undertaking the pilgrimage for the third time with five family members, said his nephew Lavkesh Kumar. Yamunotri was the first stop on their journey. Health officials attributed his death to cardiopulmonary arrest, likely triggered by strenuous trekking conditions and low oxygen levels near the Yamunotri shrine, which sits at an altitude of roughly 10,800 ft in the Garhwal Himalayas. With the rise in pilgrim footfall, there has been a steady increase in health-related deaths during the annual pilgrimage. The Kedarnath trek, which requires pilgrims to walk at least 16km uphill, has seen at least 20 fatalities. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Born 1940-1975 With No Life Insurance Could Be Eligible For This Reassured Get Quote Undo Ten pilgrims have died on the Yamunotri route, followed by eight in Gangotri and five in Badrinath, bringing the total number of deaths due to health complications to 43, according to district authorities. Officials deployed on the yatra route said stricter enforcement is needed in the plains, where some pilgrims "intentionally" bypass health checks to continue their journey. By the time health screenings are conducted in the hills, many have already entered high-risk zones, limiting the effectiveness of the process. "Most fatalities have occurred due to cardiac or respiratory issues, often triggered by pre-existing comorbidities that worsen in the region's harsh conditions, as all the shrines are above 10,000 ft. Like the Amarnath Yatra, we need mandatory health criteria to prevent such tragedies. At Amarnath, checks are strictly enforced due to security reasons. But since the Char Dham yatra doesn't face such threats, it remains open to all. This open access, however, needs to be reconsidered," said an official from the Char Dham district administration. Since April 30, approximately 349,111 pilgrims have undergone screenings at various Health Screening Centres (HSCs) and Medical Relief Points (MRPs) along the route. Of these, nearly 15,000 were identified with comorbidities, according to data from the Uttarakhand health department. "Pilgrims who believe that dying during the journey guarantees salvation (moksha) should be gently counselled to prioritise their health and aim for a safe pilgrimage. This approach would significantly help reduce the death toll," said a senior doctor on yatra duty. Health staff have counselled over 3,000 high-risk individuals flagged for comorbidities and nearly two dozen were convinced to return to their home states and attempt the pilgrimage later, once their health improved, according to the state health department data.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Time of India
Kedarnath portals open for devotees after winter break
Dehradun: Amid Vedic chants and devotional fervour, the portals of Kedarnath were opened to pilgrims on Friday morning. Thousands of devotees gathered at the Himalayan shrine — located over 11,700 feet above sea level — to witness its ceremonial reopening after the six-month winter break. Officials said the shrine saw a turnout of 16.5 lakh pilgrims in 2024, and as of May 2, 2025, a total of 23.5 lakh devotees have registered for this year's Char Dham yatra, including 30,492 foreign pilgrims. The portals of Badrinath are scheduled to open on May 4. The doors of the 11th Jyotirlinga were opened at 7.00 am, following the rituals. The temple was adorned with 108 quintals of flowers, and the Regimental Band of The Grenadiers played devotional music. An aerial flower shower added grandeur to the occasion. The Panchmukhi Utsav Doli (ceremonial palanquin) of Lord Kedarnath arrived after passing through Shri Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath (the winter seat of the deity), Guptkashi, Phata, and Gaurikund. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, who attended the ceremony with his wife, said, "The govt has finalised all necessary arrangements to ensure a well-organized pilgrimage. Appropriate provisions for security and convenience have been made."
Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ahead of Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand begins verification drive of vendors, crackdown on ‘foreign infiltrators'
Days ahead of the Char Dham yatra in Uttarakhand, the administration has kicked off a verification drive for vendors, street hawkers, and slumdwellers. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday chaired a meeting with all district magistrates and senior officials, and said landlords failing to verify tenants would face legal action. Dhami told officials that the verification of individuals living in makeshift settlements, as well as vendors and street hawkers, must be completed promptly and that strict action would be taken against those responsible for issuing ration cards, Aadhaar cards, electricity connections, Ayushman cards, and other documents to ineligible beneficiaries. District authorities were directed to assign departmental officers to conduct the verification drives. Meanwhile, the Dehradun police have started a verification drive of over 800 'outsiders' who are tenants in the district. Action has been taken against 162 building/shop owners for not verifying tenants/domestic workers. Over 130 suspects have been 'brought to the police station for questioning', police said, adding that 44 suspects were fined Rs 14,000 under section 81 of the Police Act. All station in-charges were instructed to launch a campaign in their respective jurisdictions to verify and apprehend suspects 'in view of maintaining security and public order'. The CM had earlier said that the drive will be to crack down on 'foreign infiltrators'. The Chief Minister Monday said robust security arrangements must be ensured at all religious and tourist sites, with special focus on the Char Dham Yatra. District magistrates were instructed to conduct regular monitoring of security measures in their respective districts. CM Dhami also directed that immediate action be taken against individuals or groups spreading fake news through various platforms, particularly during the Char Dham Yatra and 'in other sensitive matters'. 'Accurate and verified information must be regularly disseminated through all channels by the district administration,' he said. In the wake of the yatra, it has been directed that attention be given to forest fire management, with strict action against those found responsible for causing forest fires. A statement by the government said that instructions were given to ensure smooth traffic management and road maintenance during the Char Dham Yatra. 'Priority is to be given to local horse and mule operators for the pilgrimage. Cleanliness, beautification, and provision of basic facilities along the yatra routes must be ensured. Officials were also instructed to check rate lists along the travel routes and ensure there are no complaints of overpricing,' it said.
