Kedarnath: Chopper Carrying 6 Pilgrims Crash-Lands in Rudraprayag, All Passengers Safe

Kedarnath: On Saturday afternoon, six pilgrims in a private helicopter crash-landed on the Guptkashi–Gaurikund highway near Barasu in Rudraprayag district, said the official, and everyone involved stayed unharmed. There has now been four helicopter accidents in the past month.

The directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) has published a statement, “Kestrel Aviation’s AW119 (Reg. VT-RNK) helicopter, piloted by captain RPS Sodhi, experienced a hard landing on the road adjacent to the Bharasu helipad earlier today. As per initial inputs, shortly after take off from the helipad, the pilot reported a suspected issue with the collective control getting stuck. In response, he executed a controlled force landing on the road near the helipad.All passengers are safe and unharmed. A team from DAS(NR) is being sent for onsite assessment.”

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While the helicopter was flying over the way to Kedarnath shrine from Barasu town, it had to land on the highway just before 1 pm, RC Chaubey added.

The person who was piloting the flight was slightly injured, while every other passenger was safe. “The chopper was carrying six people, including the pilot. All passengers are safe. The pilot suffered minor injuries, including compression on his back, and has been taken to the hospital for treatment,” Chaubey, who is also the nodal officer for helicopter services, said.

Chaubey added, “The chopper’s tail broke in the incident as it collided onto a car parked on the roadside.”

Measures are taking place to take out the unstable part of the chopper so traffic could return to normal.

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“The directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) has been informed about the incident. The rest of the shuttle operations are continuing as per schedule,” Uttarakhand civil aviation development authority (UCADA) CEO Sonika said.

On May 8, a helicopter on its way to Gangotri Dham crashed in Gangnani, killing aix people. While another heli-ambulance from AIIMS, Rishikesh, coming to transfer a patient with chest illness from Kedarnath, crashed nearby the shrine’s helipad on May 17. Another helicopter helicopter’s suddenly struck a car at the land Badrinath helipad on May 12, nearly causing a tragedy.

Last year, May 24, a helicopter rented by Kestrel Aviation landed uncertainly on a field near the Kedarnath helipad whilst six pilgrims were on board. On August 31, while being airlifted to Chamoli’s Gauchar by an Indian Air Force MI-17 chopper for repair, the same military chopper unexpectedly crashed near Lincholi, close to the Mandakini River in Rudraprayag district because the towing rope snapped.

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