5th helicopter accident since pilgrimage started on April 30
Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand): A helicopter carrying pilgrims from the Kedarnath shrine crashed early Sunday in the forests of Gaurikund amid poor visibility, killing all seven people onboard, the fifth helicopter accident on the Chardham Yatra route since the pilgrimage started on April 30.
The civil aviation ministry suspended the operations of the helicopter operator and issued a slew of safety directions after the tragedy, which came just days after the air disaster in Ahmedabad.
The seven people on board the Bell 407 helicopter, operated by private firm Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd, included a two-year-old child and the pilot. They hailed from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
The ministry said it has suspended the operations of Aryan Aviation for the Char Dham Yatra and has directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to immediately post officers from airworthiness, safety and operations to actively oversee all helicopter activity in the Kedarnath valley.
Preliminary indications suggest that the probable cause may be controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), with the helicopter reportedly airborne despite poor visibility and extensive clouding at the valley entry area, the ministry said in a statement.
The exact cause will be determined through a detailed investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), it added.
CFIT occurs when an airworthy aircraft under the complete control of the pilot is inadvertently flown into terrain, water or an obstacle.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also ordered a high-level inquiry and suspension of helicopter operations on the Chardham Yatra route for two days.
Rudraprayag district disaster management officer Nandan Singh Rajwar told PTI that zero visibility caused by bad weather apparently led the helicopter to crash between Gaurikund and Trijuginarayan in Kedarghati and catch fire.
“There were five passengers, one infant and one crewmember onboard. The helicopter took off from Guptakashi at 05:10 hrs and landed at Shri Kedarnath ji helipad at 05:18 hrs. The helicopter took off again at 05:19 hrs for Guptkanshi and crashed near Gaurikund,” an official statement said.
Among the victims was a member of the Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee Vikram Singh Rawat.
Rajveer Singh Chauhan, the pilot of the helicopter, had served in the Indian Army for over 15 years and had vast experience of flying missions over different terrains.
Besides the pilot, a couple and their two-year-old daughter hailing from Yavatmal in Maharashtra were also among those killed in the crash.
They were identified as Rajkumar Jaiswal, a transport businessman, his wife Shraddha, and their daughter Kashi, former Wani MLA Vishvas Nandekar told reporters in Yavatamal.
Vinood Devi (66) and Tushti Singh (19) from Uttar Pradesh were among the victims.
The civil aviation ministry said the DGCA has been directed to immediately post officers from airworthiness, safety, and operations to actively oversee all helicopter activity in the Kedarnath valley and rigorously review the functioning of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) command-and-control room.
12-yr-old girl hurt after fall from zipline in Manali
Shimla: A 12-year-old girl sustained injuries after she fell when the harness rope snapped during a zipline ride in Manali, officials said on Sunday.
The video of the girl, Trisha Bijwe, falling from the zipline had gone viral on social media platforms.
Trisha, a resident of Maharashtra’s Nagpur, was visiting Manali with her family. last week, when the incident happened.
According to officials, Trisha was midway on the zipline when the harness rope broke. She fell from around 30 feet height onto a gorge with boulders, sustaining serious injuries.
The girl was immediately rushed to a nearby medical facility, from where they were referred to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh. She was later taken to a private hospital in Nagpur, where she is currently undergoing treatment, they said.
