Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand), June 15: The pilgrimage route from Sonprayag to Kedarnath Dham has been temporarily suspended due to a landslide near Jangalchatti, Rudraprayag Police confirmed on Sunday. Debris and falling stones have obstructed the footpath, prompting authorities to halt the yatra until further notice.
In an advisory issued on social media, Rudraprayag Police urged pilgrims to remain at their current locations and prioritize safety. “The pilgrimage from Sonprayag to Kedarnath Dham has been postponed till further orders. Devotees are advised to stay safe wherever they are,” the police posted on X.
The situation was further worsened by a tragic helicopter crash near Gaurikund earlier in the day that claimed seven lives, including the pilot and six pilgrims. The Aryan Aviation helicopter was en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi when it went down around 5:30 am in a dense forested area.
Victims Identified:
- Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan (39) – Jaipur, Pilot
- Vikram Rawat (47) – Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, Rasi
- Vinod Devi (66) – Uttar Pradesh
- Trishti Singh (19) – Uttar Pradesh
- Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41) – Gujarat
- Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal & Kashi (2) – Maharashtra
Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local police conducted a coordinated operation in adverse weather and rugged terrain under the supervision of SDRF Commander Arpan Yadav.
CM Dhami Orders Aviation Safety Overhaul
In response to the fatal crash, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that helicopter services to and from Kedarnath will be suspended for the next two days. He convened an emergency meeting and issued directives to ensure strict compliance with Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) norms.
“The rules of DGCA must not be violated. Pilots flying in upper Himalayan regions must have prior experience in such terrains. Aviation companies must ensure this,” Dhami told ANI. He also proposed setting up a control and command centre for better aviation monitoring in the region and vowed “strict action against any negligence.”
As the region grapples with both natural and aviation-related disruptions, officials continue to urge caution while reaffirming their commitment to the safety of pilgrims and travelers.