DEHRADUN: As yet another tragic helicopter crash claimed seven lives near Kedarnath last week —coinciding with the somber 12th anniversary of the 2013 Kedarnath disaster—a chorus of outrage is rising from citizens, civil society groups, and safety advocates in Uttarakhand.
The state has now seen five helicopter accidents in just six weeks, sparking urgent calls to ground all helicopter operations on the Char Dham Yatra route until adequate infrastructure and oversight mechanisms are put in place.
Leading the charge is Anoop Nautiyal of the SDC Foundation, who has written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), demanding a complete suspension of helicopter services for the remainder of this year’s Yatra season.
“This time must be used to build proper infrastructure and ensure that no more lives are lost due to negligence and unregulated operations,” he said.
In a strongly-worded statement, Nautiyal has also tagged the Prime Minister’s Office on social media, drawing national attention to the crisis.
His message was amplified in a special segment on NDTV India titled "Aasman Se Barasati Mauton Ka Zimmedar Kaun?" where he criticized what he described as a "systemic collapse and absolute lack of management" in overseeing helicopter operations.
Flying Blind in the Himalayas
Uttarakhand’s treacherous mountain terrain and unpredictable weather demand the highest aviation standards. But according to Nautiyal and other observers, the current state of affairs is alarmingly reckless.
“There is no air traffic control (ATC), no radar coverage, no real-time weather monitoring, and yet helicopters are flying like Ubers—taking off and landing every 2-3 minutes in narrow valleys,” Nautiyal warned.
“This is not air transport, it’s aerial roulette.”
Despite a government circular issued just days before the latest crash—stipulating a cap on the number of passengers to avoid overloading—the ill-fated helicopter on June 15 was reportedly carrying six passengers, in violation of the new norms.
Chasing Records at the Cost of Lives?
Critics say the state’s obsession with breaking pilgrimage footfall records is leading to disastrous compromises in safety. “The focus has to shift from chasing meaningless numbers to ensuring safety, professionalism, preparedness, and a culture of accountability,” Nautiyal said.
He further stressed that pilots are being pushed to fly in conditions that would be considered unacceptable elsewhere, often with minimal visibility, changing weather every minute, and no basic infrastructure to support safe operations.
A Call to the DGCA—and the Nation
The SDC Foundation’s letter to the DGCA calls for immediate suspension of heli-operations and demands a safety audit, proper aviation infrastructure, trained air traffic personnel, and real-time weather services before any future flights are allowed.
Many citizens have echoed this sentiment online, demanding that the Char Dham Yatra not become a death trap in the name of convenience and profit.
“Until we create a system that respects the fragility of the Himalayan ecosystem and prioritizes human life over numbers, we are gambling with people’s lives—both in the air and on the ground,” Nautiyal concluded.
As Uttarakhand reels under yet another aviation tragedy, the question remains: Will safety finally take precedence, or will sacred journeys continue to be marred by preventable deaths?
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