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Several steps have been taken in the past few years to improve safety of helicopter operations in the region –
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India’s civil aviation regulator is “reviewing the necessity of curtailing helicopter operations” to Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand due to recent safety concerns.
The possibility of curtailing operations arose after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted a safety review of chopper services.
In one such incident, a helicopter crashed close to Gangotri, killing six people, while on May 12, a chopper blade struck a car at Badrinath Helipad.
Sources have alleged that operators overload their helicopters to maximise profits, despite strict safety norms set by the DGCA.
In a statement on Monday, the DGCA said, “Recently, multiple occurrences involving helicopter operations during the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand have underscored the necessity for further strengthening the safety oversight of these operations. Safety investigations have been initiated for each of these occurrences to identify contributing factors, including mechanical failures, operational errors, and weather-related challenges.”
“Reaffirming its steadfast commitment to aviation safety, DGCA is responding proactively to these occurrences and has ordered special audits or enhanced surveillance for helicopter operators involved in shuttle services and charter operations in the state of Uttarakhand.”
According to the DGCA, directives have been issued to all helicopter operators, restricting operations to ‘Out of Ground Effect’ (OGE) conditions until further orders.
Besides, the regulator said that it is actively monitoring live camera feeds provided by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) at Kedarnath to detect any deviations from standard operating procedures (SOPs).
In a recent enforcement action, DGCA suspended the operation of two helicopter operators for two hours for failing to adhere to SOPs.
Furthermore, the operations of Kestrel Aviation have been suspended with immediate effect pending investigation, the regulator said.
In addition, the DGCA has stationed a team at Sahastradhara helidrome in Dehradun to monitor chopper operations.
On Sunday, sources told businessline that the regulator has come down heavily on chopper operators and is conducting on-the-ground surveillance and reviews of operations.
“DGCA’s teams have been working round-the-clock to ensure that safety norms are being followed. If need be, stricter steps will be taken by the regulator to ensure absolute compliance with safety norms,” sources told businessline.
The Chardham yatra includes pilgrimage to shrines such as Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath between May-June and September-October.
Lately, these helicopter services have grown in popularity, providing a faster and more comfortable option to visit Uttarakhand’s four sacred shrines, as they avoid long overland journeys.
The Chardham pilgrimage can be completed in three to five days by helicopter.
A travel package, according to an industry insider, includes helicopter flights between Dehradun and the four Dhams, VIP temple darshan passes, luxury hotels and meals, ground transportation from helipads to temples, and personalised support.
On average, these services cost from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹10 lakh, depending on the package the pilgrim avails.
Published on June 9, 2025
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