Uttarakhand CM Directs Stricter Safety Norms For Helicopter Ops After 5 Crashes In 6 Weeks

This includes mandatory technical checks, accurate weather information, and a committee of experts to review safety aspects.

Following a fatal helicopter crash near Kedarnath that killed seven, Uttarakhand CM Dhami ordered stricter SOPs for heli-services.

Source : PTI

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials in the state to prepare stringent measures for the operation of heli-services in the state, said the Chief Minister's Office on Sunday. 

The development follows the tragic helicopter crash earlier in the day near Kedarnath that claimed seven lives, marking the fifth such incident in the last six weeks, raising serious concerns about passenger safety in the treacherous Himalayan terrain.

"CM Dhami said that a strict SOP should be prepared for the operation of heli services in the state, in which a complete check of the technical condition of the helicopter and taking accurate weather information before the flight should be made mandatory," said the CMO.

The Chief Minister has also directed the Chief Secretary to constitute a committee of technical experts, which will prepare the SOP after a thorough review of all the technical and safety aspects of heli operations, it added. 

The committee has been tasked with ensuring that the operation of heli services is completely safe, transparent and as per the prescribed standards. 

Helicopter Crash Kills  7 

On Sunday morning an Aryan Aviation helicopter ferrying pilgrims from the Kedarnath temple to Guptkashi went down in a forested area between Gaurikund and Sonprayag at approximately 5:20 a.m. 

All seven people onboard including six pilgrims and the pilot were killed in the crash. A child was also among those killed in the accident. 

The victims hailed from various states including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, according to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA). Preliminary reports suggest a combination of technical malfunction and adverse weather conditions may have led to the crash.

Local villagers collecting fodder in the area were the first to spot the downed helicopter and alerted authorities. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were immediately dispatched to the crash site.