Maharashtra Couple, 2-Year-Old Daughter Die in Kedarnath Helicopter Crash; Son Survives After Staying Behind

Officials suspect that poor visibility due to inclement weather led to the crash.

The deceased from the Jaiswal community in Wani have been identified as Rajkumar Jaiswal, Shraddha Jaiswal.

Source : Namrata Dubey

A family from the Yavatmal district in Maharashtra tragically lost their lives in the recent helicopter crash near Kedarnath on Sunday morning. The deceased from the Jaiswal community in Wani have been identified as Rajkumar Jaiswal, Shraddha Jaiswal, and their two-year-old daughter Kashi Rajkumar Jaiswal.

Their son, Vivaan, survived as he had stayed back with his grandfather in Pandharkawda and did not accompany the family on the trip.

Seven people, including the pilot, were killed after the helicopter crashed near the Kedarnath temple due to bad weather. 

How Did The Helicopter Crash In Kedarnath

The helicopter crashed near Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district. Officials suspect poor visibility due to inclement weather led to the crash.

The chopper, operated by Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd, had taken off from Kedarnath en route to Guptkashi around 5:30 am. It went down shortly after, in a densely forested area known as Gauri Mai Khark, located about 5 km above Gaurikund. The helicopter reportedly caught fire upon impact between Gaurikund and Trijuginarayan in the Kedarghati region.

District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar confirmed the crash site and stated that rescue and relief teams were immediately deployed. Meanwhile, District Tourism Development Officer Rahul Chaubey said search efforts began soon after the helicopter was reported missing.

Panel To Form SOP For Heli Services 

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed condolences and announced the formation of a technical expert committee to frame a strict Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for heli services in the state. This SOP will mandate thorough technical inspections of helicopters and real-time weather checks before operations.

The latest crash adds to a series of aviation mishaps in Uttarakhand, including an emergency chopper landing on June 7 and a fatal crash in Uttarkashi last month. It comes just days after a devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that killed 241 people.