A helicopter crash in the Indian Himalayas on Sunday 15 of June claimed the lives of seven people, including a toddler. The aircraft was carrying Hindu pilgrims from the Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand state.
Officials confirmed that the pilot and six passengers died when the helicopter went down during the flight. Disaster response officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said the crash happened near the temple, which sits at an altitude of 3,584 metres (11,759 feet).
State tourism officer Rahul Chaubey said poor weather likely caused the accident.
Following the crash, civil aviation authorities halted helicopter services to Himalayan shrines. Chaubey confirmed the suspension was a safety precaution.
Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, posted on X that the state would not tolerate any compromise on passenger safety.
Pilgrims visit Kedarnath and nearby shrines mostly during the summer, when roads and mountain paths are accessible. Some opt for helicopters to avoid the long and difficult treks, especially those with limited mobility or tight schedules.
Several incidents have already marked this year’s pilgrimage season. A crash last month killed six people, while another helicopter was forced to land on a highway due to a technical fault earlier this month.
