A helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation, flying from Kedarnath to Guptkashi in Uttarakhand, has crashed in the forested area near Gaurikund. The aircraft was carrying seven people, including the pilot. While reports indicate possible casualties, official confirmation is still awaited.
The chopper took off at 5:17 am and was returning from Kedarnath after picking up passengers. According to officials, the helicopter veered off course due to severe weather conditions in the Kedarnath valley. Poor visibility and challenging terrain are believed to have contributed to the crash.
Rescue operations are underway, and further details are expected soon.
00:00We have some breaking news that's coming in at the very top of this segment, at the very top of this hour in fact.
00:07A chopper that has crashed in Uttarakhand's Gaurikund area.
00:11This is yet another tragic news that we are gathering.
00:15The chopper has crashed in Uttarakhand's Gaurikund area is what we are learning at this given point.
00:21So far the report suggests that seven people were on board in this crashed chopper.
00:27Again, six adults and a 10-year-old were on board in this very chopper.
00:33These are the latest details that we have with regards to this tragic news coming to the round.
00:38Remember, we are already reeling from the shock of the Air India plane crash.
00:45And yet again, we have another tragedy knocking on our doors.
00:49Again, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhani has said that rescue operations are underway.
00:53We are keeping a track of what exactly has gone down or what went down wrong for this chopper to have tragically crashed.
01:00But right now we are being joined by Ankit Sharma on the broadcast to bring us more details into this very story that's coming to the fore.
01:09Tragic story that too at the same time.
01:11Ankit, help us understand the details as to what exactly caused this unfortunate crash to have taken place in Uttarakhand.
01:20Where was the plane headed?
01:22Where was the chopper headed?
01:23And any confirmation on the casualties so far?
01:27Good morning, Sia.
01:33Well, the chopper actually took off from Kedarnath and it was supposed to land on Guptakashi helipad.
01:42And due to an unfortunate moment turning on, the helicopter was missing.
01:49And after some hours, a video also surfaced online that the helicopter has crashed in a remote area of Gauri Kund Kharka area.
02:00And the SDRF and NDRF team is about to reach the crash site and at least seven people were boarding the helicopter.
02:11It's a very unfortunate incident that has come to light this morning.
02:16The weather is also not favorable.
02:18As you can see behind me, the dark clouds are looming over the city Dehradun.
02:23And same is the picture in every town of Uttarakhand today.
02:29So, despite the bad weather, the helicopter took off from Kedarnath helipad.
02:34And it was supposed to land at Guptakashi helipad.
02:38But in between like 10 kilometers from Kedarnath, near Gauri Kund Kharka area, the helicopter is reportedly crashed.
02:47However, the authorities are not confirming the crash reports as of now because they are still searching.
02:54And after completing the 8 kilometer track, the authorities will reach in about 40-45 minutes from now.
03:01And then only, they will confirm it.
03:03See ya.
03:04Right, Ankit.
03:05So, Ankit, at this given point, as we have been telling our viewers as well, seven people were on board.
03:11But you're saying that the authorities have still not reached the area.
03:14But preliminary reports, from the preliminary reports rather, what are we gathering with regards to the cause?
03:21Was it bad weather at this given point that we are learning about?
03:24Because we see from the visuals the area has been, or rather was, quite cloudy at that given point.
03:31Is it being looked at as one of, could be like, you know, a possible cause behind this very aviation tragedy that's taken place?
03:39Exactly.
03:44As I said, that the dark clouds, rain clouds are looming over various districts of Uttarakhand, including Rudraprayag and high-altitude areas like Kedarnath.
03:54And the heli took off at 5.30 a.m. despite the DGCA restrictions after we saw a hard landing few days ago when a helicopter landed straight away on the highway.
04:09And after that, a license was also cancelled of one of the heli agencies called Kerstrel.
04:16This is Aryan Aviation.
04:18Two years ago, the same helicopter, the same agency's helicopter also crashed in Kedarnath.
04:25And six people had died in October 2022.
04:29Now, after that, what kind of precautions, what kind of measures these heli companies have been taking is quite visible now.
04:38Because the helicopter, which was supposed to take off at 5, which took off at 5.30 a.m., was supposed to land at 5.30 a.m. in Guptakashi.
04:49But it did not reach and it went on missing.
04:52So, after that, the authorities went on for the search operation.
04:56Till now, authorities have not reached because of the bad weather.
04:59Now, this also raises concern that despite DGCA's hard guidelines, why the heli companies are not following it,
05:06the heli operations should start after the sunrise.
05:10And in hills, you know that sunrise is generally after 6 a.m. or 6.30 a.m.
05:16And after sunset, there is no heli operations as well.
05:19And DGCA has also instructed the heli operators to take only two sorties in one hour.
05:26And crucial management was also needed in such hour after we saw the heli crash landing, hard landing, few days ago.
05:35And in Gangnani, few months ago, in Uttarkashi district, we also saw that a helicopter crashed, killing six people.
05:44So, what have we learned from these incidents?
05:47We have seen a big plane crash in recent days.
05:52And what we are learning of flying safety is quite exposed now.
05:56Absolutely, Ankit, indeed, it is very alarming at this given point as to how things have been proceeding,
06:05especially within the aviation sector.
06:08Why guidelines are not being followed despite such a tragedy only having struck us a few days earlier.
06:15That is something that questions are still being raised regarding to.
06:18Ankit, thank you for bringing us all those details.
