By Parshant Chohan

June 16, 2025

NDRF and SDRF personnel at the spot after a helicopter crashed near the Kedarnath shrine, in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, Sunday, June 15.(NDRF)

Amritsar, june 16, 2025 : In the hallowed sanctuaries of the Indian Himalayas—where faith is meant to uplift and transform—pilgrimage has become peril. The journey to Kedarnath, undertaken by thousands in spiritual pursuit, now resembles a harrowing test of fate, punctuated by debris, grief, and unanswered questions.

Over the course of a single month, no fewer than five helicopter incidents have taken place across the Char Dham circuit. At least thirteen lives have been extinguished—among them infants, elderly worshippers, and seasoned pilots. These were not faceless statistics; they were individuals whose final prayers were interrupted by metal, fire, and official apathy.

Let there be no illusion: these were not mere “accidents.” They were the tragic culmination of systemic administrative dereliction and an ethos of greed over governance.

Rescue and relief work is underway after a helicopter carrying devotees to Gangotri Dham crashed at Gangani, in Uttarkashi district, on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Where Was the Urgency After the First Crash?

On 8 May 2025, a helicopter crash near Gangotri claimed six lives. And what did the government do? Offer condolences. No sweeping policy reform. No immediate suspension of similar operations. No audit of safety standards.

Then came the 15 June 2025 Kedarnath crash, taking seven more lives. Only then did officials awaken from their slumber — suspending Aryan Aviation, grounding flights temporarily, and calling for investigations. But by then, it was too late.

Why must action only follow death? Why can’t it prevent it?

A Timeline of Neglect: Five Shocking Incidents

• 8 May 2025 – Gangotri Route (Uttarkashi):
  A helicopter carrying six people crashed due to suspected poor visibility. All six, including the pilot, perished.

• 12 May 2025 – Badrinath Route (Chamoli/Ukhimath):
  A helicopter returning from Badrinath Dham to Sersi was forced to make an emergency landing at Ukhimath school ground due to poor visibility. All five pilgrims survived unharmed.

• 17 May 2025 – Kedarnath Route (Rudraprayag):
  An AIIMS Rishikesh medical evacuation chopper crash-landed near the Kedarnath helipad after its tail section was damaged. Miraculously, all three onboard survived without injuries.

• 7 June 2025 – Kedarnath Route (Rudraprayag):
  A Kestrel Aviation helicopter developed a technical fault during takeoff and was forced to land on a highway in Rudraprayag. All five passengers were safe, though the pilot suffered minor injuries.

• 15 June 2025 – Kedarnath Route (Rudraprayag):
  A devastating crash of an Aryan Aviation helicopter returning from Kedarnath claimed the lives of all seven onboard, including five pilgrims, a child, and the pilot.

Profit Over Pilgrims

It is painfully obvious that the Char Dham helicopter routes are driven more by revenue than by reverence. Operators cram maximum sorties into a day, prioritising profit over safety. Pilots are overworked. Weather protocols are ignored. And the administration watches in silence — until a tragedy forces them to speak.

As activist Anoop Nautiyal rightly questioned:
“Will these helicopters be reined in after five accidents in just over a month, or will they keep crashing like this?”
Does the government even care? Or have human lives become expendable in the name of convenience and tourism?

A Call to Conscience

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and aviation authorities must understand: this is not just a failure of policy. This is a moral failure. You were trusted with the lives of those who came seeking blessings — instead, you offered them coffins.

If this carnage does not shake your conscience, what will?

What Must Be Done — Immediately
Ground all non-essential flights until a full safety audit is completed.
Limit daily sorties and pilot flying hours to prevent fatigue.
Mandatory real-time weather clearance for every flight.
Transparent investigation with public accountability for those found guilty.
Compensation and apology to families of the deceased — not as a favour, but as a responsibility.

The Himalayas are no place for recklessness. Faith is not an excuse to endanger lives, and governance is not a license to ignore them. Every life lost is a stain on the conscience of this nation — a shame that no PR statement can wash away.

The families of the dead are not asking for miracles — they are demanding justice, dignity, and the truth.

And the government must answer. Now.