Photo Credit: India Today
In a dramatic turn of events during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra, a helicopter ferrying pilgrims to the sacred Kedarnath shrine made an emergency landing on a busy highway in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district. The incident occurred around 12:52 PM on Saturday, shortly after the helicopter took off from the Badasu (Sersi) helipad.
Operated by Kestrel Aviation Private Limited, the helicopter reportedly developed a technical snag, suspected to be a malfunction in the collective control system. Acting swiftly, pilot Captain RPS Sodhi performed a force landing near the Guptkashi helipad, managing to avert a major tragedy. Unfortunately, during the landing, the tail of the chopper struck a parked car on the roadside, crushing it. Fortunately, the car was empty at the time.
While all five passengers on board the helicopter were unharmed, the pilot sustained minor injuries and was rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment. Video footage of the chopper sitting precariously in the middle of the highway, just feet away from residential structures, quickly went viral, sparking debates on aviation safety in the hilly terrains of Uttarakhand.
This is the fourth helicopter-related incident along the Char Dham Yatra route in just 30 days, raising serious concerns about the safety protocols of aviation operators. Notably, on May 8, a helicopter crash near Gangnani in Uttarkashi claimed six lives. Other emergency landings were reported on May 12 and May 17 in Ukhimath and near the Kedarnath helipad, respectively.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been notified and is expected to initiate a detailed investigation into the technical failure. Meanwhile, helicopter services to Kedarnath are continuing under caution, while local authorities have advised road traffic to remain halted in the area until the aircraft is cleared from the highway.
The Char Dham Yatra attracts thousands of pilgrims every year, and the repeated aviation incidents have prompted urgent calls for enhanced oversight, regular maintenance audits, and stricter safety standards.
