NewKerala.com

Key Points

Union MoS Murlidhar Mohol termed the Uttarakhand helicopter crash near Kedarnath as "horrific and tragic." Seven people, including devotees and the pilot, lost their lives in the accident. Maharashtra Dy CM Eknath Shinde confirmed the deaths of three devotees from Yavatmal. Rescue operations were conducted in challenging terrain by SDRF and NDRF teams.

Key Points: MoS Murlidhar Mohol Calls Uttarakhand Chopper Crash Horrific and Tragic

  • Seven killed in Uttarakhand helicopter crash near Kedarnath
  • Rescue ops led by SDRF, NDRF in dense forest
  • Maharashtra Dy CM confirms deaths of Yavatmal devotees
  • Pilot and BKTC representative among deceased
3 min read

Horrific and tragic: Union MoS Murlidhar Mohol expresses grief over Uttarakhand helicopter crash

Union MoS Murlidhar Mohol and Maharashtra Dy CM Eknath Shinde express grief over the Uttarakhand helicopter crash that killed 7, including devotees.

"The helicopter crash near Gaurikund on the Kedarnath Yatra route is a horrific and tragic incident. – Murlidhar Mohol"

New Delhi, June 15

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Sunday expressed grief over the crash of a helicopter near the forested area of Gaurikund in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district.

In a post on social media X, the Minister called the incident "horrific and tragic."

He also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.

"The helicopter crash near Gaurikund on the Kedarnath Yatra route is a horrific and tragic incident.

After this accident, rescue work has been started on a war footing by the Uttarakhand administration and the NDRF. #DGCA and #AAIB are starting the investigation of this accident soon.

Some devotees have died in this accident. May their souls attain salvation and may their families get the strength to overcome this sorrow. This is my prayer at the feet of Baba Kedarnath!" the post read.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also called the accident "unfortunate" and stated that all relevant authorities had been instructed to provide necessary assistance to the family.

"The Yavatmal Disaster Management Cell has received information that three devotees of the Jaiswal family from Wani in Yavatmal district died in a helicopter accident at Gaurikund while en route to Kedarnath. This accident is unfortunate and tragic and instructions have been given to the relevant authorities to provide all necessary assistance to the family. I share the grief of the Jaiswal family and the government is with us. My humble tributes to the devotees who died in this accident," Shinde's post read.

Earlier this morning, seven people, including the pilot on board a helicopter were killed after the chopper crashed near the forested area of Gaurikund in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) said.

The Aryan Aviation Helicopter was flying to Guptkashi from the Kedarnath Dham when it crashed at 5:30 am today.

The deceased have been identified as Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan (39), resident of Jaipur, Vikram Rawat (47) a Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee representative and resident of Rasi, Vinod Devi (66), resident of Uttar Pradesh, Trishti Singh (19), resident of Uttar Pradesh, Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41), resident of Gujarat, Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal and Kashi (2), resident of Maharashtra.

Rescue teams were immediately dispatched under the direction of SDRF Commander Arpan Yadav. The incident spot was located in a very inaccessible and dense forest area, where a fast-paced and coordinated rescue operation was carried out by the joint teams of SDRF, NDRF, and local police.

Rescue teams worked in inclement weather to retrieve the bodies of the deceased.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Such a heartbreaking incident 😢 My prayers with all the families. The Kedarnath route has always been challenging, but helicopter services were supposed to make it safer. Authorities must conduct thorough safety audits of all pilgrimage air services.
P
Priya M.
The loss of a 2-year-old child is especially devastating. As a mother, I can't imagine the pain of that family. While we appreciate the quick rescue response, why are we still having such accidents in important pilgrimage routes? Better weather monitoring systems needed urgently!
A
Amit S.
Salute to the rescue teams working in such difficult terrain and weather conditions. But I must ask - are these helicopter operators cutting corners on maintenance? The DGCA should publish their safety audit reports transparently. Jai Baba Kedarnath 🙏
S
Sunita R.
My family did the Char Dham yatra last year by road. After seeing this news, I think we made the right choice despite the longer journey. Sometimes modern convenience comes with hidden risks. The mountains demand respect - whether by road or air.
V
Vikram J.
The pilot was from my hometown Jaipur. These mountain pilots are real heroes, flying in extremely challenging conditions daily to serve pilgrims. Hope the investigation gives his family proper answers. Om Shanti to all departed souls.
N
Neha T.
While the ministers' condolences are appreciated, we need concrete action. How many more tragedies before mandatory black boxes in all tourist/pilgrimage helicopters? And better compensation for victims' families. This is becoming too frequent in Himalayan regions.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50