A helicopter en route to the Kedarnath shrine made an emergency landing on a highway in Uttarakhand on Friday after it developed a technical snag shortly after take-off. The aircraft came dangerously close to nearby buildings, and its tail rotor struck an unoccupied car during the forced landing. All five pilgrims on board escaped safely, while the pilot sustained minor injuries.
The helicopter took off from the Barasu base at 12:52 pm for a 45–50-minute flight to Kedarnath. Within minutes of departure, the pilot reported a suspected issue with the collective control getting stuck. Reacting swiftly, the pilot executed a controlled force landing on a road adjacent to the helipad.
केदारनाथ मार्ग पर बडासू में ऐसे खतरनाक तरीके से हैलीकॉप्टर की इमरजेंसी लैंडिंग, लेकिन लोगों को देखिये हाथ में फोन क्या आ गया डर ख़त्म हो गया #kedarnath #kedarnathyatra2025 #helicopter pic.twitter.com/3hEisIU7SZ
— Pyara Uttarakhand प्यारा उत्तराखंड (@PyaraUKofficial) June 7, 2025
Pilgrims Safe, Services Continue
“The incident did not affect the helicopter shuttle service to the Himalayan temple,” said Kedarnath heli service nodal officer Rahul Chaubey, speaking to PTI. Efforts are underway to move the helicopter off the highway and resume normal operations.
Third Incident in a Month Involving Helicopters in Uttarakhand
This is the third helicopter-related incident reported in the region within a month. On May 8, a helicopter headed to Gangotri temple crashed near Gangnani in Uttarkashi district, killing six people, including five women and the pilot. One male passenger was seriously injured.
Just four days later, on May 12, a helicopter returning from Badrinath to Sersi had to make an emergency landing in a school playground in Ukhimath due to poor visibility. Fortunately, all passengers were unharmed, and the helicopter resumed flight after the weather improved.
On May 17, a heli ambulance from AIIMS Rishikesh crash-landed near the Kedarnath helipad after damage to its rear section. All three onboard — a doctor, a pilot, and a medical staff member — were reported safe.
The recent spate of incidents has raised serious questions about helicopter safety in Uttarakhand’s high-altitude pilgrimage zones. These concerns are particularly significant during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra season.
