Seven people, including a two-year-old child and the pilot, died in a helicopter crash near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand, India, while flying from Kedarnath along the Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage route.
The Aryan Aviation Bell 407 registered VT-BKA lost contact shortly after takeoff early Sunday morning. Rescue teams retrieved all bodies, and an official investigation is underway.
In response, authorities have suspended all helicopter services on the route pending safety reviews. The state’s chief minister has ordered a full inquiry and stricter regulations, citing multiple recent emergency landings and crashes in the region.
? BREAKING:
HELICOPTER ? CRASHED IN KEDARNATH,Gaurikund
Seven Dead In Chopper Crash Near Kedarnath, 5th Such Incident In 6 Weeks.It was flying from the Kedarnath temple to Guptkashi in Uttarakhand.
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami BJP,directs strict SOPs for heli services… pic.twitter.com/8tt4SFiAyA
— ASGA-??????? (@VoiceForIndian) June 15, 2025