Kedarnath helicopter services suspended until September due to monsoon

Helicopter services to the revered Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district have been suspended until September, coinciding with the arrival of the monsoon season. This decision comes under strict instructions from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and aims to prioritize pilgrim safety, particularly in light of recent aviation incidents on the treacherous mountain route. The services are expected to resume only after the monsoon recedes, likely around September.

Rahul Chaubey, Rudraprayag district tourism officer and nodal officer for the Kedarnath chopper services, confirmed the shutdown, stating, "The operators shut down their operations with the arrival of the monsoon session. The services will now resume in September in compliance with the directions of the DGCA." The suspension is a customary practice during the monsoon due to adverse weather conditions in the Himalayan region, which significantly impact flight safety and visibility.

The decision is also heavily influenced by a series of concerning helicopter incidents on the Char Dham pilgrimage route in recent weeks. A particularly tragic event on June 15 saw a helicopter carrying pilgrims from Kedarnath crash, claiming the lives of all seven people aboard, including a two-year-old girl. This accident marked the fifth helicopter incident on the route within six weeks, which also included three emergency landings and another fatal crash earlier, collectively killing thirteen people.

These recurring mishaps have intensified safety concerns surrounding helicopter operations serving the popular Char Dham pilgrimage, which attracts tens of thousands of devotees. The June 15 crash had already led to a two-day suspension of chopper services on the entire Char Dham route, prompting authorities to re-evaluate and enforce stricter safety protocols before operations can safely resume later in the year.