Bharat Ki Baat: Kedarnath Helicopter Crashes Raise Alarm Over System Failures, Ignored Warnings

Frequent helicopter crashes in Kedarnath and Uttarakhand have raised serious concerns about aviation safety and systemic negligence. The recent tragedy that claimed seven lives has exposed glaring lapses in regulations and monitoring. Helicopters, used like auto-rickshaws for air taxi services, often bypass safety norms due to commercial pressure. With 14 helipads and up to 180 flights a day, operators are accused of violating DGCA guidelines on passenger weight and weather conditions.A major issue is the lack of automatic weather stations in the Kedarnath valley, making real-time weather updates unavailable to pilots. Additionally, there's no local air traffic control; pilots rely on Bareilly ATC in Uttar Pradesh, increasing communication gaps. Most helicopters are single-engine, which drastically reduces survival chances in case of engine failure. The lack of proper insurance coverage for passengers and unclear accountability further add to the problem.Only after repeated accidents has DGCA issued new guidelines, including live monitoring and possible flight reductions. Critics question why these actions weren’t taken earlier. As crashes continue—like the May 2025 Uttarkashi crash that killed six—calls grow louder for stricter oversight and preventive action, rather than reactive responses after each tragedy.