Kedarnath helicopter crash: Uttarakhand bans chopper services for two days; DGCA orders probe

The Uttarakhand state government has banned helicopter services from  Kedarnath for two days, in the wake of tragic crash on Sunday. All seven persons onboard a private helicopter transporting pilgrims from Kedarnath died in a crash during the early hours of Sunday. 

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called an emergency meeting soon after the incident and directed authorities to prepare a standard operating procedure for helicopter services in Kedarnath. Dhami told authorities to ensure pilots with experience operating in Himalayan terrain are being engaged by operators in the state.

Dhami told ANI, "An emergency meeting was called immediately in which instructions have been given that the rules of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) should not be violated, and the pilots flying in the upper Himalayan areas should have experience of the region. Aviation companies should also ensure this. A control and command centre should be set up." 

Dhami said strict action will be taken against those involved in the accident.  "Helicopter services will not run today or tomorrow. These services will remain closed until the safety of the passengers is ensured," the chief minister said. 

A helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation crashed in the Gaurikund forests during the early hours of Sunday. The chopper was going from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi and it crashed reportedly due to bad weather. All six passengers and the pilot died in the crash. 

The chief minister on Sunday said a strict SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) should be prepared for the operation of heli services in the state, in which a complete check of the technical condition of the helicopter should be made mandatory. He said weather status should also be checked before heli operations.