Sonika, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), confirmed the resumption of helicopter services on Monday, emphasizing that flights will only operate if weather conditions permit.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will closely oversee all shuttle services, according to a report by The Hindu.
Operations were halted after a helicopter, run by Aryan Heli Aviation, crashed in Gaurikund at approximately 5 am on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals as it was returning from Kedarnath to Guptkashi.
Victims included an elderly woman from Uttar Pradesh traveling with her granddaughter, a couple from Maharashtra with their two-year-old daughter, and a pilot who had recently welcomed twins.
Preliminary investigations suggest that adverse weather conditions and technical malfunctions were likely responsible for the crash.
The Chardham Yatra route in Uttarakhand, which encompasses Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri shrines, has experienced several helicopter incidents and emergency landings in recent history.
Since the pilgrimage commenced on April 30, five helicopter accidents have occurred along the route.
In light of safety concerns, the Ministry of Civil Aviation swiftly intervened post-incident, suspending all commercial and passenger helicopter flights in the region on June 15 and 16. Legal measures have also been initiated against Aryan Aviation.
A letter from Anoop Nautiyal, founder of the NGO Social Development for Communities Foundation, addressed to the DGCA, raised alarms about helicopters operating throughout the state without radars, air traffic control (ATC), or real-time weather information.
Nautiyal described the Kedarnath route as one of the most perilous air corridors in the country due to unpredictable weather and lack of facilities, asserting that it was reckless to permit flights in such conditions.
He noted that pilots were essentially flying ‘blind’ on these routes.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
