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Indian Express
5 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Chopper crash in Uttarakhand: What ails the private aviation sector in the hill state
Uttarakhand chopper crash: Seven people, including an infant, died after their helicopter flying from Kedarnath crashed near Gaurikund on June 15 amid bad weather. The pilot of the chopper was among those dead. Last month, five passengers and the pilot were killed after their helicopter plunged into a gorge while flying to Gangotri. On June 7, a helicopter carrying five passengers to Kedarnath had to land on a highway after a technical snag during take-off. Helicopters being flown by private operators in Uttarakhand, specially during the Chardham pilgrimage season, were under Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) scrutiny even before Sunday's crash. Experts say a combination of flawed policy, tricky terrain, and rapidly changing weather conditions make chopper rides in the hill state dangerous. After June 15, all Char Dham yatra operations by Aryan Aviation, the operator of the crashed Bell 407 helicopter, have been stopped, and two other helicopter pilots, working for a different operator, have been suspended for six months for flying in 'unsuitable weather conditions'. What rules govern the private operators While the DGCA regulates the airspace and aviation is a subject in the Union List, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), an authority instituted in 2013, coordinates with helicopter operators. Following the Sunday tragedy, questions have been raised about the absence of an Air Traffic Control system in the region The Kedarnath helipad is located in Rudraprayag at an altitude of 11,000 feet near the shrine. The helipad is used primarily for seasonal shuttle operations during the pilgrimage, between May and June and September and October every year. The helipad is maintained by UCADA. Apart from government-owned helipads, the operators also have their own. There are around 20 operators in the state, according to UCADA CEO Sonika, including charter services. 'Charter operators can have more than two helicopters while those providing shuttle services should have at least two,' she said. Under the terms and conditions an operator has to follow, the UCADA mandates the following: The fares are on par with pony rides and the royalty levied by the UCADA is Rs 5,000 per landing at government-owned helipads. This causes a race for the maximum number of sorties possible, to increase profits. Each pilot operating shuttles is permitted up to 50 landings in a day. Additionally, the operator has to provide 10 flying hours on a non-chargeable basis each Yatra season to meet exigencies as determined by the UCADA. Failure to do so attracts a penalty of Rs 2 lakh each time. The operators have to seek the UCADA's permission to take breaks in flying, even during the monsoon. Withdrawal of any helicopter on the grounds of reduced pilgrim traffic is allowed only after the operator has obtained written approval of the CEO or the additional CEO of UCADA. The terms and conditions also say that the UCADA shall not be liable for any consequences arising out of any accident. According to its tender documents, the upper fare is Rs 8,000 per passenger one way. Speaking to The Indian Express, veteran aviator Cdr KP Sanjeev Kumar said a flawed revenue model could be at the root of the problems ailing the shrine tourism sector. 'In a region already loaded with capricious weather that pushes man & machine to its limits, unreasonable contractual clauses, extortionate landing charges and royalties are imposed on helicopter operators in the Char Dham region by UCADA. This incentivises unsafe flying & maintenance practices,' he said. Explaining further, he added, 'The Char Dham flying window is already narrow, just about four months, and on top of that, authorities penalise operators for withdrawing services or grounding aircraft for maintenance. This creates pressure to fly even in adverse conditions and to maximise landings.' Despite recommendations by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, the Kedarnath helipad still lacks navigation aids and an Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility. The operators and pilots use VHF communication (very high frequency radio waves), which can be blocked by hills and mountains. The Kedarnath valley also lacks a meteorological facility with qualified personnel, when the unpredictable character of the weather and cloud formations makes it vital for pilots to have accurate information. On Kedarnath, the DGCA has a separate annexure on the regulations. 'There shall not be more than four helicopters at any given time flying within the Kedarnath valley. A maximum of six helicopters may be airborne, provided spacing is ensured in a manner so as to have only four in the Kedarnath valley. Stagger will be followed by operators to ensure only four helicopters (two inbound and two outbound) are operating within the Kedarnath valley at any one time.' On Sunday, three helicopters were en route to Guptkashi when one of them lost control. Also, only highly trained pilots are allowed to operate in the area. Along with the mandatory hill-flying experience, pilots operating in the Char Dham circuit should have knowledge of the terrain and minimum safe altitudes; seasonal meteorological conditions, communication and air traffic facilities; and search and rescue procedures. Most operators have direct booking through their websites. Many travel agencies provide a package that includes accommodation and transportation at an added cost. Helicopters can be booked for all four dhams, or for just Badrinath and Kedarnath. A pilgrim goes to Gaurikund by road, which is the base station and 16 km away from Kedarnath shrine. From here, a mule or a pony for the road ahead takes hours, while a helicopter takes 15 minutes. May 8, 2025: Six dead near Gangotri. April 2024: An Uttarakhand government official was killed after being hit by the moving tail rotor blade of a helicopter he was about to board in Kedarnath, two days before the portals of the shrine were to be opened for pilgrims. October 2022: All seven people, including the pilot, onboard an Aryan Aviation helicopter carrying Kedarnath pilgrims were killed as it crashed after colliding with a hill amid low visibility in Rudraprayag district. August 2019: Three people were killed when a helicopter engaged in rescue operations in cloudburst-hit areas of Uttarkashi district crashed at Moldi village in Arakot. The helicopter was owned by Heritage Aviation. June 2017: A helicopter engineer in Badrinath died while two pilots suffered injuries after the chopper met with an accident. The Agusta 119 helicopter, belonging to Kestrel Aviation, was on its way to Haridwar, carrying five pilgrims, along with the two pilots and one engineer. Aiswarya Raj is a correspondent with The Indian Express who covers South Haryana. An alumna of Asian College of Journalism and the University of Kerala, she started her career at The Indian Express as a sub-editor in the Delhi city team. In her current position, she reports from Gurgaon and covers the neighbouring districts. She likes to tell stories of people and hopes to find moorings in narrative journalism. ... Read More
Hans India
6 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Visit spiritual places, other destinations, travellers urged
Visakhapatnam: A number of packages are available for tourist destinations around the world along with spiritual places, said RV Tours and Travels Private Ltd chairman and founder RV Ramana. Speaking to the media after inaugurating the travels office in Visakhapatnam on Monday, he mentioned that the organisation was already offering services to the people of Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Karimnagar, Khammam, Kurnool, Warangal, Ongole, Rajamahendravaram, Bhimavaram and Varanasi. He informed that they were also providing huge discounts on many tours like Kasi, Ayodhya, Chardham, Amarnath and more than a hundred domestic and foreign tours including Europe, London, Dubai and Singapore. On the occasion of the new branch inauguration in the city, tourists can avail 10 per cent discount on domestic tours and 5 per cent discount on foreign trips till June 20, he informed.
NDTV
7 days ago
- General
- NDTV
No Radars, Weather Updates Behind Rise In Uttarakhand Chopper Crashes
Sunday's chopper crash in Uttarakhand was the fifth helicopter accident in the last six weeks that has triggered outrage and concern among people and has sent officials scrambling for answers. 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. Social activist Anoop Nautiyal on Monday asked aviation regulator DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) to halt helicopter operations on the Chardham Yatra route for the entire pilgrimage season this year, urging the government to build an infrastructure suitable for safe flying in the challenging Himalayan terrain. "Since we have had five 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 posted on X addressing the DGCA. He emphasised that the lives of pilots and pilgrims are at risk with "no Air Traffic Control (ATC), no radars and no real-time weather updates". Five adults, an infant and one crew member were on board the Aryan Aviation's Bell 407 helicopter operating in the "Shri Kedarnath Ji - Aryan Helipad, Guptkashi" sector that crashed on Sunday, the Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement. The helicopter took off from Guptkashi at 05:10 am and landed at Shri Kedarnath Ji Helipad at 05:18 am before departing again at 05:19 am for Guptkashi and is reported to have crashed near Gaurikund between 05:30 am and 05:45 am, the statement said. A case has been registered against helicopter service operating firm Aryan Aviation Private Ltd for alleged negligence in connection with the chopper crash which killed all seven people on board, including a two-year-old child and the pilot. The complaint states that Aryan Aviation was allotted the first slot from 6 am to 7 am for helicopter operations on June 15, while this accident happened before that at 5:30 am. The first flying slot opens at 6 am. Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami said it has been decided to set up a common "Command and Coordination Center" in Dehradun for better coordination and safe operation of helicopters. Here's a look at previous accidents: On May 8, a helicopter going to Gangotri Dham crashed in Uttarkashi district in which six people were killed. 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 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. 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 In contrast to last 14 years, 13 helicopter accidents have happened in the Kedarnath Valley in which 41 people have died. A helicopter operator, who previously ran a helicopter service in Kedarnath valley, pointed out that the companies providing helicopter services here keep the helicopter circling around Kedarnath without stopping, suggesting it as one of the reasons behind the rise in accidents. The operator did not wish to be named. The companies that provide service in the Kedarnath valley are given Shuttle Flying Slots every 10 days by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA). According to these shuttle flying slots, the aviation companies fly their helicopters in the Kedarnath valley and take the devotees for the visit and darshan of Kedarnath Dham. "The helicopter flights to Kedarnath are conducted as per DGCA norms i.e. SOP. An aviation company has permission to fly three times in an hour from Guptkashi and an aviation company flies four times in an hour from Phata and Sirsi," said UCADA CEO Sonika. The officer said that the ATC has a weather station in Kedarnath, the weather office IMD is also going to set up its station there and "we also have weather surveillance cameras", adding that weather is so unpredictable and the terrain so difficult that safety measures will have to be put in place. How many trips are helicopter companies allowed to make? The companies operate from three helipads in Kedarnath Dham. Helicopter services run from Guptkashi, Phata, Sirsi helipads. Nine aviation companies are providing services in Kedarnath valley and each company gets 7 to 8 hours flying slots. In this 8-hour slot, the helicopter gets 25 minutes for refuelling after every hour. Apart from this, each company has two pilots as per the time given to the company. If 8-hour flying slots are given, then one pilot will fly for 4 hours and the other for 4 hours. If 7-hour flying slots is given, then one pilot will fly for 3:30 hours and the other will fly for 3:30 hours. Apart from this, when the helicopter returns after completing the last flying slot, it is mandatory to have 100 litres of fuel in it, according to the DGCA rules. NDTV has learnt that an aviation company gets approximately 24 trips a day from Guptkashi, 32 trips a day from Phata and approximately 32 trips a day from Sirsi. According to the DGCA rules, 6 helicopters can fly at a time in Kedarnath valley. After the completion of the time of three helicopters, three more helicopters can fly, that is, 6 helicopters can fly regularly in Kedarnath valley at a time, in which 6 helicopters will fly towards Kedarnath and three helicopters will fly back from Kedarnath to Guptkashi Phata and Sirsi. A former helicopter operator told NDTV that Kedarnath valley is the most difficult flying zone for helicopters because the weather mostly turns bad from Rambada to Jungle Chatti or there is fog and clouds in the valley which make it difficult to fly the helicopter. Additionally, single engine helicopters fly here and they have to fly in the valley itself because the wind flows downwards from Kedarnath to Gauri Kund and Sonprayag. All the four dhams in Uttarakhand are in the Himalayan region above 3,000 meters, where the weather creates the biggest problem for the helicopters. What's the weight that helicopters can carry? The helicopters are not allowed to take off with a full tank. Also, the weight of passengers cannot exceed 380 kg and the luggage of each passenger should not be more than 2 kg. One of the major reasons for the accidents is that there is no Air Traffic Control System due to which there is a lot of difficulty in monitoring the helicopter service. Also, there is no weather office here so that information about bad weather can be immediately given to the helicopter pilots, which can help in preventing these accidents. "Officers of DGCA and other agencies will be permanently placed here. An integrated command control coordination and communication centre will be developed here," said Anand Vardhan, Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand.
India Today
15-06-2025
- India Today
Chardham helicopter services suspended for two days after Kedarnath crash
Helicopter services on the Chardham yatra route were suspended for two days on Sunday in the wake of the crash of a chopper returning from people, including the pilot, were killed in the helicopter crash on Sunday Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who held an emergency meeting with senior officials to discuss the situation, said heli services will remain suspended for two days as the weather is bad and the safety of passengers is the state government's top He also told officials at the meeting to issue a strict SOP for heli operations in the state and set up a control and command centre here, besides taking action against those responsible for the crash."There should not be any laxity regarding compliance with DGCA norms in helicopter operations in the state. It should also be ensured that the pilots flying in the upper Himalayan region are experienced," Dhami said after the emergency Secretary Anand Bardhan, Tourism and Civil Aviation Secretary Sachin Kurve, Disaster Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, UCADA (Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority) and DGCA officials attended the meeting, held via video attributed the crash to inclement weather and said heli operations will remain suspended for two days on Sunday and Monday."The weather is also bad and the safety of pilgrims is paramount. There will be no heli services today and tomorrow. Aviation companies, DGCA and UCADA have been asked to review the situation thoroughly before resuming heli operations", he 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 latest crash involving an Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd chopper returning from Kedarnath near Guptkashi on Sunday morning is the fifth helicopter accident on the pilgrimage route since the start of the yatra on April 30.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- The Hindu
Helicopter services for Chardham yatra suspended for two days
Helicopter services on the Chardham yatra route were suspended for two days on Sunday in the wake of the crash of a chopper returning from Kedarnath. Seven people, including the pilot, were killed in the helicopter crash on Sunday (June 15, 2025) morning. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who held an emergency meeting with senior officials to discuss the situation, said helicopter services will remain suspended for two days as the weather is bad and the safety of passengers is the state government's top priority. He also told officials at the meeting to issue a strict SOP for helicopter operations in the State and set up a control and command centre in Dehradun besides taking action against those responsible for the crash. 'There should not be any laxity regarding compliance with DGCA norms in helicopter operations in the state. It should also be ensured that the pilots flying in the upper Himalayan region are experienced,' Mr. Dhami said after the emergency meeting. Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Tourism and Civil Aviation Secretary Sachin Kurve, Disaster Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, UCADA (Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority) and DGCA officials attended the meeting held via video conferencing. Mr. Dhami attributed the crash to inclement weather and said heli operations will remain suspended for two days on Sunday (June 15) and Monday (June 16). 'The weather is also bad and the safety of pilgrims is paramount. There will be no heli services today and tomorrow. Aviation companies, DGCA and UCADA have been asked to review the situation thoroughly before resuming heli operations,' he said. 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. The latest crash involving an Aryan Aviation Pvt. Ltd. chopper returning from Kedarnath near Guptkashi on Sunday morning is the fifth helicopter accident on the pilgrimage route since the start of the yatra on April 30.
