Latest news with #UttarakhandCivilAviationDevelopmentAuthority
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
6k tickets cancelled, Kedarnath choppers to be grounded till Sept 15
Dehradun: Chopper operations to Kedarnath remained suspended for the seventh straight day on Saturday after a crash killed seven people on June 15, grounding eight operators, cancelling thousands of bookings and causing financial losses over Rs 4 crore in Rudraprayag district. Sources said helicopter services are expected to resume only around Sept 15, after the end of the monsoon season. District tourism officer Rahul Chaubey said no bookings were made beyond June 22 due to the halt, which was initiated in the wake of monsoon and pending safety directives. Chaubey, who also oversees helicopter services on the Kedarnath route, said, "Around 900 tickets are being cancelled each day as the choppers are not operating since June 15, which means anything between 5,400 to 6,000 tickets have been cancelled in this duration. We are waiting for instructions from U ttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) before proceeding any further." Since the Kedarnath yatra began, 56,044 pilgrims have taken helicopter rides from Guptkashi, Sirsi and Phata, while 54,209 have returned from Kedarnath to these helipads. The June 15 incident was the fifth helicopter-related mishap on the Char Dham route in 45 days. On May 8, six people died in a crash near Gangotri In response to the rising number of crashes, Uttarakhand high court took suo motu cognisance of the June 15 incident and sought a reply from the state on safety lapses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed the implementation of stricter norms, including the deployment of twin-engine helicopters, mandatory real-time weather cameras, and regular fitness checks for choppers. He also ordered a command-and-control centre to be set up in Dehradun. Environmental concerns have also surfaced, with residents and activists flagging the ecological toll of frequent helicopter traffic on the fragile Himalayan region, calling for operations to be suspended until proper safeguards are enforced.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
6k trees in elephant corridor face axe for Doon airport expansion
Dehradun: Around 6,000 trees in Uttarakhand's Shivalik Elephant Reserve are likely to be felled for the planned expansion of Jolly Grant Airport, forest officials said on Thursday. The proposal involves diversion of approximately 48 hectares (about 110 acres) of forest land, and the tree enumeration in the affected area has been completed. NS Dobhal, ranger of the Thano Forest Range under the Dehradun Forest Division, said, "About 6,000 trees have been counted in the area and the details have been sent to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), which is overseeing the project, for further action." He added that the next step involves the user agency uploading a proposal on the Parivesh portal as per Forest Conservation Act guidelines. The forest department will then examine the proposal before it is sent to the ministry for further clearances and approvals. Shahwant Sharma, manager of Jolly Grant Airport, told TOI, "The state govt is in the final stages of identifying the land to be handed over to the Airports Authority of India for the airport's expansion. We expect the handover to be completed within the next three months. The state govt is overseeing both the land acquisition and the tree removal process." The development has drawn criticism from conservationists, especially as it comes despite chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's 2022 assurance, made during Wildlife Week, that "no trees would be cut in the reserve for development projects". The area identified for diversion falls within a riverine ecosystem that sustains elephants, leopards and several species of antelope. Conservationists have flagged concerns over habitat fragmentation in the Thano, Badkot and Rishikesh forest ranges due to rapid urbanisation and infrastructure projects. "Forests are vital for recharging river systems. The wellbeing of this forest directly affects the Chandrabhaga river, which supports both wildlife and local communities. Many animals come regularly to its banks to drink," said veteran environmentalist Ravi Chopra. The airport expansion has faced ecological scrutiny since 2020. The Shivalik Elephant Reserve was briefly denotified to facilitate the project, but was later re-notified following legal challenges and public outcry. A previous proposal had sought the diversion of 87 hectares (214 acres) of forest land, requiring nearly 9,700 trees to be cut, but it was shelved after strong opposition. In addition to the airport project, around 4,000 trees in the Shivalik Elephant Reserve were also marked for felling for the proposed four-laning of the Bhaniyawala–Rishikesh road. The road would run close to Rajaji Tiger Reserve, which is home to tigers, elephants, leopards, and several species of antelope. That project too faced protests from residents and environmentalists. In Aug 2020, around 2,500 century-old Sal trees were cut down for the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway to reduce travel time by 15 minutes. Conservationists then also objected to the removal of trees from the forest corridor.
India.com
4 days ago
- Climate
- India.com
Helicopter Services In Kedarnath Resumes After Rudraprayag Accident
DEHRADUN: Helicopter operations at the Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand have resumed, and the tourists have been told to plan their journey according to the weather, according to CEO of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority. The official, Sonika said 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. On Sunday monring, seven people, including the pilot of a helicopter died after it crashed near the forested area of Gaurikund in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) said. The Aryan Aviation Helicopter was flying to Guptkashi from the Kedarnath Dham when it crashed at 5:30 am on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan (39), resident of Jaipur, Vikram Rawat (47) a Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee representative and resident of Rasi, Vinod Devi (66), resident of Uttar Pradesh, Trishti Singh (19), resident of Uttar Pradesh, Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41), resident of Gujarat, Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal and Kashi (2), resident of Maharashtra. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a virtual high-level meeting with senior officials from the CM residence after the crash. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated. The DGCA further said that, in light of the crash, the frequency of helicopter operations at Char Dham would be reduced as a precautionary measure. DGCA is also carrying out enhanced surveillance and operational reviews. Chief Executive Officer of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Department (UCADA), Sonika had stated that helicopter shuttle services in the area had been closed, given the ongoing relief operations and weather conditions in the valley.
Hindustan Times
4 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 Gazette
5 days ago
- General
- India Gazette
Helicopter services in Kedarnath resumes after Rudraprayag accident
Dehradun (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 17 (ANI): Helicopter operations at the Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand have resumed, and the tourists have been told to plan their journey according to the weather, according to CEO of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority. The official, Sonika said 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. On Sunday monring, seven people, including the pilot of a helicopter died after it crashed near the forested area of Gaurikund in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) said. The Aryan Aviation Helicopter was flying to Guptkashi from the Kedarnath Dham when it crashed at 5:30 am on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan (39), resident of Jaipur, Vikram Rawat (47) a Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee representative and resident of Rasi, Vinod Devi (66), resident of Uttar Pradesh, Trishti Singh (19), resident of Uttar Pradesh, Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41), resident of Gujarat, Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal and Kashi (2), resident of Maharashtra. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a virtual high-level meeting with senior officials from the CM residence after the crash. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated. The DGCA further said that, in light of the crash, the frequency of helicopter operations at Char Dham would be reduced as a precautionary measure. DGCA is also carrying out enhanced surveillance and operational reviews. Chief Executive Officer of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Department (UCADA), Sonika had stated that helicopter shuttle services in the area had been closed, given the ongoing relief operations and weather conditions in the valley. (ANI)
