Uttarakhand News: Emergency Landing of Helicopter Carrying Kedarnath Pilgrims in Rudraprayag; All Safe

A helicopter ferrying five devotees to Kedarnath Dham made an emergency landing on a national highway near Bharasu in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district on Saturday afternoon, following a suspected technical fault. The incident, which occurred around 1 pm, temporarily disrupted traffic along a key pilgrimage route, officials confirmed.

Pilot Acts Swiftly After Technical Fault

The helicopter, an AW119 aircraft operated by Kestrel Aviation Pvt. Ltd., was piloted by Captain RPS Sodhi. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the pilot detected a malfunction in the collective control — a critical system for vertical lift — shortly after takeoff from the Bharasu helipad. In response, he executed a controlled hard landing on the adjacent national highway.

“All five passengers on board were evacuated safely and without injuries,” the DGCA stated. “The pilot, however, sustained minor back injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.”

Local Authorities Confirm Safety, Begin Clearance Efforts

Rahul Chaubey, District Tourism Development Officer and Heli Service Nodal Officer, confirmed the incident and assured that all passengers were unharmed.

“Today, on 7th June, around 1 pm, Kestrel Aviation’s helicopter developed a technical fault while taking off from Bharasu. Following this, it landed on our national highway. There were five passengers and one pilot onboard. The pilot was injured while the five passengers are all safe,” he said.

The landing also damaged a parked vehicle, though no other casualties were reported. The incident had no effect on regular heli-shuttle operations to Kedarnath.

Traffic Disruption and Recovery Operations

The emergency landing resulted in a temporary shutdown of traffic on both sides of the highway near Badasu, a key corridor for pilgrims traveling to Kedarnath. Rescue and logistics teams were promptly deployed to remove the helicopter and restore vehicular movement.

Authorities have initiated a technical inspection of the aircraft, and a detailed investigation will follow to determine the cause of the mechanical failure.

Pilgrimage Safety Measures Under Review

With thousands of pilgrims visiting Kedarnath during the Char Dham Yatra season, this incident has raised concerns over flight safety in challenging mountainous terrains. Aviation authorities are expected to conduct a thorough audit of helicopters operating in the region to ensure safety protocols are strictly followed.

Despite the incident, pilgrimage operations continue uninterrupted, and officials have reiterated their commitment to passenger safety and service reliability.