Kedarnath pilgrimage halted from Sonprayag due to landslides and chopper crash

The pilgrimage route from Sonprayag to Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand has been postponed indefinitely due to hazardous conditions, including falling stones and debris near Jangalchatti, as confirmed by Rudraprayag Police on Sunday. The footpath was obstructed when debris and stones fell into a ravine, making the path unsafe for devotees. This suspension comes amidst heightened safety concerns, exacerbated by a fatal helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district earlier today, which claimed seven lives, including the pilot.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami addressed the gravity of the situation, announcing that helicopter services to Kedarnath would not operate for the next two days. He emphasized the state's commitment to pilgrim safety and warned of strict action against any aviation companies found violating Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rules. The Chief Minister also stated that an emergency meeting was convened, issuing directives to ensure pilots flying in the upper Himalayan regions possess adequate experience, and called for the establishment of a control and command center to monitor aerial services.

The helicopter crash, involving an Aryan Aviation chopper flying from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, occurred at 5:30 AM near Gaurikund's forested area. Rescue teams from SDRF, NDRF, and local police launched a coordinated operation in the inaccessible terrain to retrieve the bodies of the deceased, identified as Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan, Vikram Rawat, Vinod Devi, Trishti Singh, Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal, Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal, and Kashi. Authorities have appealed to all devotees en route to Kedarnath Dham to remain in safe locations, such as hotels, until further notice.