A helicopter crash in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand on Sunday morning resulted in the death of seven people, including a two-year-old, according to media reports. It marked the fifth such accident in the state since April.
The victims were pilgrims traveling to Kedarnath in the Himalayas, one of Hinduism’s holiest shrines. Their helicopter crashed near Gaurikund, which is 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) above sea level, according to the Indian Express newspaper.
Local police have filed a case against Aryan Aviation, the helicopter operator, charging the company with “culpable homicide not amounting to murder.” The police have also accused the operator of “gross negligence” and listed several alleged lapses, including the helicopter’s takeoff before its allotted time, particularly during periods of poor visibility.
Each helicopter operator is required by Indian aviation authorities to appoint a person responsible for ensuring strict compliance and adherence to the allotted flying slots, which is to be ensured by the base manager, according to media reports. All helicopter operations in the area have been suspended by the authorities.
Additionally, two helicopter pilots have been suspended for six months for flying in “unsuitable weather conditions,” according to the Uttarakhand state government. Helicopters are a popular mode of transport among Hindu pilgrims visiting the Char Dham, a set of four holy Himalayan pilgrimage sites, including Kedarnath, in Uttarakhand.
The state has announced plans to open a real-time command center to track helicopter movement, with oversight from authorities, and only experienced, high-altitude pilots will be cleared after an audit.
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