Dehradun: A devastating helicopter crash near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district on Sunday morning claimed seven lives, including that of Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Rajveer Singh Chauhan, a decorated Army veteran and father of two-month-old twins. The tragedy has cast a pall of grief over his family, who were preparing for a traditional ceremony to celebrate the birth of the children later this month.
The Bell 407 helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd, was returning from Kedarnath to Guptkashi when it crashed into a densely forested hillside around 5:30 a.m., shortly after takeoff. Authorities attribute the crash to poor visibility caused by heavy fog, a recurring hazard in the narrow Himalayan valleys.
A life of service, a sudden end
Lt Col Chauhan, 37, had served in the Indian Army for over 15 years, including high-risk postings in Siachen and along the international border. After retiring in 2023, he joined Aryan Aviation in October 2024 and had already completed over 80 sorties during the Kedarnath Yatra season.
Just two months ago, he and his wife, Lt Col Deepika Chauhan, welcomed twin babies after 14 years of marriage. The family, based in Jaipur, was preparing for a Jalwa Pujan, a traditional Rajasthani ceremony to celebrate the arrival of newborns, scheduled for June 30. Instead, they are now grappling with an unimaginable loss.
“He had just returned to duty 20 days ago after spending time with his newborns,” said his father, Govind Singh Chauhan, who received the news from one of his son’s colleagues. “We never imagined that would be the last time we saw him.”
Crash site and aftermath
The crash site, located between Gaurikund and Triyuginarayan, was difficult to access due to dense forest and steep terrain. Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) recovered the charred remains of all seven victims. Six of the bodies were severely burned, complicating identification. Local authorities have set up a help desk at the Ayurvedic Hospital in Rudraprayag to assist grieving families.
Government response and investigation
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow and ordered a high-level probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). All Char Dham helicopter services by Aryan Aviation have been suspended for two days, and the flying licenses of its pilots revoked for six months pending investigation.
Preliminary findings suggest the helicopter took off before its allotted time slot, violating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Authorities suspect that protocol lapses and inadequate weather assessment contributed to the crash.
A pattern of concern
This marks the sixth helicopter crash in the Kedarnath region in 12 years, and the fifth aviation incident in Uttarakhand in just two months. Experts continue to call for real-time weather monitoring, stricter enforcement of SOPs, and greater accountability from private operators.
