Chamoli (Uttarakhand): In light of rising water levels in the Alaknanda River at Badrinath Dham, Chamoli Police on Sunday issued a safety advisory urging devotees to stay away from the riverbanks. The alert follows sudden rainfall in the region that has triggered a swift rise in the river’s flow.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Chamoli Police stated, “Important Information: Currently, the weather is unstable. Due to sudden rainfall, the water level of the Alaknanda River in Shri Badrinath Dham is increasing rapidly. Devotees are requested to avoid going near the river. Please be careful. Your safety, our priority.”
This warning comes amid heightened safety concerns following the tragic helicopter crash near Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district on June 15, which claimed the lives of seven people, including the pilot and six passengers bound for Kedarnath Dham.
The Aryan Aviation Helicopter crashed around 5:30 am, while flying from Kedarnath to Guptkashi. The deceased included Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan (39) from Jaipur, BKTC representative Vikram Rawat (47) from Rasi, and pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, including a two-year-old child.
Rescue operations, led by the State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF) and supported by NDRF and local police, were swiftly launched under challenging weather and rugged terrain conditions. SDRF Commander Arpan Yadav coordinated the mission, ensuring the recovery of all bodies from the dense forested crash site.
The tragic loss also led to mourning within the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), with employees paying tribute to their colleague, Vikram Rawat.
In response, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami convened a high-level virtual review meeting with senior state and disaster management officials. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has since ordered an investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and announced reduced helicopter operations during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra as a precautionary measure.
The DGCA is also implementing enhanced surveillance and operational reviews to ensure the safety of pilgrims amid unpredictable weather and terrain challenges in the Himalayan region.
The Char Dham Yatra, drawing thousands of pilgrims annually, has faced multiple disruptions this season due to both natural hazards and aviation accidents, underlining the importance of adhering to all safety advisories issued by authorities.