Latest news with #RajveerSinghChauhan
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Helicopter services halted after deadly crash on June 15 resume on Char Dham route
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday resumed chopper services on the Char Dham route that were halted after a helicopter carrying pilgrims from Kedarnath crashed on June 15, killing all seven people aboard. The crash was the fifth incident involving choppers deployed on the Char Dham route in six weeks: three emergency landings and another crash have killed six people during this period. Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) chief executive officer (CEO) Sonika (who goes by a single name) said the chopper services had been resumed with stricter monitoring. The helicopters will fly only if the weather conditions are favourable, she said. 'After making arrangements for close chopper services on the Char Dham route have been are in touch with teams from DGCA, Met department and other concerned operators and pilots,' she said. She said that both the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and UCADA will closely monitor all shuttle services, and strict action will be taken against operators in the event of any violations. A Bell 407 helicopter operated by private firm Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd took off from a helipad in Kedarnath at around 5:20am. It was headed towards Guptkashi for a 10-minute journey when it crashed near Gaurikund, the starting point for the arduous 16-km trek to the Kedarnath shrine. After Sunday's crash, the state government suspended the operations of Aryan Aviation and ordered aviation companies to halt helicopter operations in the region 'as a safety precaution'. The crash highlighted growing safety concerns over helicopter operations serving the Char Dham pilgrimage route, which includes four sacred Hindu temples in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. The routes attract tens of thousands of pilgrims annually, many of whom use helicopters to navigate the treacherous mountain terrain. The deceased included pilot Rajveer Singh Chauhan, 35, a former army officer from Jaipur; a family of three from Maharashtra — Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal, 41, his wife Shradha, 35, and their daughter Kashi, 2; two passengers from Uttar Pradesh, Vinod Devi, 66, and her granddaughter Tusti Singh, 19; and temple committee member Vikram Singh Rawat, 46. The state police registered a first information report (FIR) against two officials of Aryan Aviation Pvt Limited. Kaushik Pathak, accountable manager of the company, and Vikas Tomar, manager of the company, were booked under section 105 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and relevant sections of the Aircraft Act on the complaint of revenue sub-inspector Rajiv Nakholia.
India Today
6 days ago
- General
- India Today
Supreme Court slams Karnataka High Court, orders Thug Life movie release
8:19 The last rites of retired Lieutenant Colonel Rajveer Singh Chauhan, who died in the recent Kedarnath helicopter crash, were held on Tuesday in Jaipur. Leading the funeral procession was his wife, Lieutenant Colonel Deepika, who clutched his portrait close to her heart. Onlookers paid their respects with chants of "Rajveer Singh Amar Rahein" (Long live Rajveer Singh). Chauhan, 37, was the captain of Bell 407 helicopter that crashed on Sunday morning near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand. Besides him, six people were killed in the accident.
India Gazette
6 days ago
- General
- India Gazette
Retired Lt Colonel Rajveer Singh Chauhan's wife bids teary farewell to her husband, killed in Uttarakhand helicopter crash
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], June 17 (ANI): Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Rajveer Singh Chauhan's wife, Lt Colonel Deepika Chauhan, on Tuesday, bid a teary farewell to her husband, who was the pilot of a helicopter that crashed in Uttarakhand's Kedarnath, killing him and six others. Chauhan's relatives, friends and many others attended the funeral ceremony in Jaipur. Five adults, one 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. The ministry said that preliminary indications suggest that the probable cause of the crash may be Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), with the helicopter reportedly airborne despite poor visibility and extensive clouding at the valley entry area. The exact cause will be determined through a detailed investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Following the incident, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, convened a high-level meeting, which was attended by senior officials of the Government of Uttarakhand, the Secretary (Civil Aviation), the DGCA, and associated teams. All charter and shuttle helicopter operations in the region were suspended on June 15-16, as a safety precaution. However, earlier today, helicopter operations at the Kedarnath Dham were resumed, and the tourists were told to plan their journey according to the weather, according to Sonika, the CEO of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority. She mentioned that flying in the region has not resumed but will resume once the weather improves. 'Heli operations have resumed today. As the weather is not favourable currently, flying has not resumed yet. But as soon as we get clear weather, flying will resume', Sonika told ANI. (ANI)
India Gazette
6 days ago
- General
- India Gazette
India is strong due to such Bravehearts: Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore pays tribute to Lt Colonel Rajveer Singh Chauhan
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India] June 17 (ANI): Rajasthan Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore paid his respects to Lt Colonel Rajveer Singh Chauhan on Tuesday. Lt Colonel Rajveer Singh Chauhan (Retd.) was one of the seven people who died in a helicopter crash in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, on June 15. Rathore, Lt Colonel Deepika Chauhan, wife of Lt Colonel Rajveer Singh Chauhan, and others took part in his funeral procession from Shastri Nagar. Rathore saluted the family and praised the officer's mother for her remarkable strength and patriotism. While speaking to ANI, Rathore said, 'It is an hour of grief for a family as well as the entire nation. A brave officer is no more among us, he left us at a very young tribute to such a brave officer.' The minister recalled, 'I salute his family. His mother chanted 'Bharat Mata ki jai' and 'Vande Mataram' even when she lost her son, who was so young. I touched her feet. She said that she was made strong by her son and is strong due to such Bravehearts. I salute the family and extend my heartfelt tribute.' Lt Colonel Deepika Chauhan bid a teary farewell to her husband, who was the pilot of a helicopter that crashed in Uttarakhand's Kedarnath, killing him and six others. Chauhan's relatives, friends and many others attended the funeral ceremony in Jaipur. Five adults, one 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. The ministry said that preliminary indications suggest that the probable cause of the crash may be Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), with the helicopter reportedly airborne despite poor visibility and extensive clouding at the valley entry area. The exact cause will be determined through a detailed investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Following the incident, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, convened a high-level meeting, which was attended by senior officials of the Government of Uttarakhand, the Secretary (Civil Aviation), the DGCA, and associated teams. All charter and shuttle helicopter operations in the region were suspended on June 15-16, as a safety precaution. However, earlier today, helicopter operations at the Kedarnath Dham were resumed, and the tourists were told to plan their journey according to the weather, according to Sonika, the CEO of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority. She mentioned that flying in the region has not resumed but will resume once the weather improves. 'Heli operations have resumed today. As the weather is not favourable currently, flying has not resumed yet. But as soon as we get clear weather, flying will resume', Sonika told ANI. (ANI)
NDTV
6 days ago
- General
- NDTV
Colonel's Teary Farewell In Uniform To Husband-Pilot Killed In Chopper Crash
New Delhi: The funeral of Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Rajveer Singh Chauhan, the pilot who died in the helicopter crash in Uttarakhand on June 15, was held in Rajasthan's Jaipur this morning. His inconsolable wife, Lieutenant Colonel Deepika Chauhan, bid a final goodbye to her husband wearing an Army uniform. A video shows Colonel Deepika Chauhan standing next to her husband's coffin, visibly shattered. She also led the funeral procession of her husband while carrying a photo of Colonel (Retd) Rajveer Singh Chauhan in her hands. #WATCH | Jaipur, Rajasthan: Lt Colonel Rajveer Singh Chauhan (Retd) was one of the seven people who died in a helicopter crash in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand on June 15. Visuals from Shastri Nagar as his wife, Lt Colonel Deepika Chauhan, Rajasthan Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore… — ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2025 Colonel Rajveer Chauhan's family members, friends, neighbours, and colleagues also assembled to pay their condolences and mourn an irreplaceable loss. Rajasthan Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore also attended the funeral to pay his respects. "I have come to pay tribute. He left us at such a young age, despite that, see the strength of the chanted, 'Vande Mataram', 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', because of such mothers, India is strong. He was a strong and a great left behind two kids... May god give strength to the family to bear the loss," Mr Rathore told news agency PTI. Rajveer Chauhan was killed with six others onboard as the chopper from the Kedarnath temple to Guptkashi in Uttarakhand crashed in a forest. The incident occurred early morning, at 5:20, with seven people on board - six pilgrims (five adults and a 23-month-old child) and a pilot, according to a statement issued by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA). All were charred to death. Colonel (retd) Rajveer Chauhan had recently retired from the Indian Army after 14 years of distinguished service. He was last posted with the Army Aviation Corps in Pathankot and held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After retirement in September last year, the Lieutenant Colonel joined Aryan Aviation Pvt. Ltd. as a civilian helicopter pilot. Rajveer Chauhan got married in 2011, and after 14 years of marriage, his wife gave birth to twin sons just four months ago. To celebrate this long-awaited joy, the family had planned a grand ceremony on June 30. "We had booked the venue, finalised the guest list; Rajveer was supposed to come home on June 25 on leave. The entire family was busy preparing for the celebration," his father said.
