In the early hours of June 15, 2025, a helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation crashed near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, India, tragically killing all seven individuals on board, including a toddler. The chopper was ferrying Hindu pilgrims from the Kedarnath temple to Guptkashi as part of the Char Dham Yatra. The crash occurred shortly after takeoff, likely due to adverse weather conditions, and ignited a fire in the forested area where it went down.
Rescue teams, including the State Disaster Response Force and local authorities, were dispatched immediately. However, all bodies were found badly burned, complicating identification efforts.
In response to the incident, the Uttarakhand government suspended all helicopter services to Kedarnath Valley until further notice and announced plans to implement stricter safety protocols for flights in high-altitude areas.
This tragedy marks the second helicopter accident and the fifth flight-related incident in the region over the past month and a half, raising serious concerns about aviation safety in the Himalayan terrain.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top officials expressed their condolences to the bereaved families, emphasizing the need for enhanced safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.