Seven people died on 15 Jun 2025 when a helicopter carrying Hindu pilgrims crashed in India’s Uttarakhand state.
The victims included a toddler and five other passengers, along with the pilot.
Toddler Among Victims in Fatal Kedarnath Temple Flight Accident
The helicopter was ferrying pilgrims from Kedarnath temple when it went down in the Himalayas.
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Disaster response official Nandan Singh Rajwar confirmed all seven people aboard the aircraft perished in the crash. The helicopter went missing at around 5:00AM local time (7:30AM on 15 Jun 2025, Singapore time) after authorities lost contact with the aircraft’s signal.
The crash occurred in a remote area near Gaurikund, with smoke rising from the wreckage site.
Kedarnath temple sits at an altitude of 3,584 metres and attracts thousands of pilgrims during summer months when the site becomes accessible.
Weather Conditions and Rescue Operations Lead Investigation Efforts
District tourism official Rahul Chaubey attributed the crash to adverse weather conditions in the region. Bad weather frequently affects helicopter operations in the mountainous terrain of Uttarakhand.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami dispatched rescue teams to the crash site immediately after receiving news of the incident. Relief and rescue operations commenced following the “very sad news” of the helicopter’s disappearance.
The helicopter charter industry has expanded significantly to serve affluent pilgrims visiting Himalayan shrines. These services allow visitors to avoid strenuous trekking routes to reach remote religious sites.
Recent Pattern of Aviation Accidents Raises Safety Concerns
This helicopter crash follows another fatal incident involving pilgrims travelling to the same shrine. Six people died last month in a separate helicopter crash en route to Kedarnath temple.
The aviation accident occurred just days after India’s deadliest recent air disaster. At least 279 people died on Thursday when a passenger plane crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad, western India.
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