Seven Killed in Helicopter Crash on Hindu Pilgrimage Route in India

Seven people, including a two-year-old child and the pilot, were killed in a helicopter crash in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, officials confirmed. The tragic accident occurred near Gaurikund on a flight path commonly used by pilgrims traveling to the revered Kedarnath Temple in the Himalayan region.

The Aryan Aviation Bell 407 helicopter took off around 5:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, heading toward Guptkashi, another popular destination for devotees on the Char Dham Yatra. Contact was lost shortly after takeoff, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation by local police and emergency services.

Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the crash as “very sad news” and ordered an inquiry into the cause. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will lead the formal investigation.

This incident adds to growing safety concerns, with three emergency landings and two crashes reported along the pilgrimage route in the past six weeks. Authorities have temporarily suspended all helicopter services in the region and plan to assess pilot experience and enforce new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure safer operations moving forward.

Families of the deceased are being contacted, and arrangements are underway to return their bodies to their home states.

The Char Dham Yatra, attracting hundreds of thousands each year, has seen an increase in helicopter traffic as pilgrims opt to avoid the physically demanding trek by air.