Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami convened an emergency high-level meeting on Sunday following a tragic helicopter crash near the Kedarnath valley that claimed seven lives, including five pilgrims, a pilot, and a staff member of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee.
The accident occurred on Sunday morning amidst poor visibility near the Kedarnath shrine. Officials said the crash prompted immediate discussions involving Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Sachin Kurve, Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, and senior representatives from the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
In response to the tragedy, CM Dhami has ordered stringent reforms in helicopter operations across the state. He emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for heli services. This SOP will mandate thorough technical inspections of helicopters and pre-flight weather assessments.
To develop this framework, the chief secretary has been instructed to form a committee comprising aviation and safety experts. The panel will assess all safety and operational aspects of heli services and ensure alignment with national aviation standards.
Additionally, a high-level investigative committee will examine all previous helicopter incidents in Uttarakhand, including Sunday’s crash. The committee will scrutinize each incident in detail, determine the root causes, identify any responsible parties or lapses, and recommend strong punitive measures where applicable.
Highlighting the critical role of helicopter services in religious tourism, disaster relief, and medical emergencies, CM Dhami reiterated that passenger safety and operational transparency must remain top priorities in all aviation activities within the state.
