A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team has recovered all seven charred bodies from the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand&rsquo;s Rudraprayag district on Sunday morning. The helicopter, a Bell 407 operated by Aryan Aviation, was flying from Kedarnath to Guptkashi when it crashed in a forested area known as Gauri Mai Khark.
The crash, which occurred around 5:20 a.m., claimed the lives of six pilgrims &mdash; including a 23-month-old child &mdash; and the pilot, Capt. Rajbir Singh Chauhan from Jaipur. Among the victims were pilgrims from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand.
The helicopter was completely destroyed by fire on impact, officials confirmed. The SDRF, NDRF, and local police teams conducted the search and recovery operation under difficult terrain and poor visibility.
In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has reduced helicopter sorties on Char Dham routes and launched a safety audit. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is probing the incident, with preliminary findings pointing to adverse weather and poor visibility as contributing factors.
The tragedy has renewed concerns about the safety of high-altitude helicopter services, especially during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]
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All 7 A Bodies Recovered From Crash Site In Uttarakhand

All seven bodies recovered from crash site near Gaurikund; DGCA orders safety review of chopper ops.

All 7 A Bodies Recovered From Crash Site In Uttarakhand

All seven bodies recovered from crash site near Gaurikund; DGCA orders safety review of chopper ops.

June 15, 2025 | 12:33 IST