Uttarakhand: Weather remains a hindrance for helicopter flights even today, money will be refunded if the flight is cancelled, team of experts deployed at Sahastradhara helidrome

The helicopter returning to Guptkashi with passengers from Kedarnath Dham crashed on June 15. Seven people including the pilot died in this helicopter crash. In such a situation, on the instructions of DGCA, the operation of heli services was stopped on June 15 and June 16. Heli service was to start from Tuesday 17 June, but bad weather came in the way. Even today the weather remains a hindrance.

Helicopters are not able to fly to Kedarnath: After the meeting held on the evening of June 16, it was decided to operate heli services from June 17. But due to bad weather, not a single flight could take place on June 17. Today, on Wednesday 18 June, the weather does not seem to be favorable. The effect of rain is being seen from the mountainous region to the plains since morning.

Bad weather stopped the flight of helicopters: Every year during the monsoon season, the operation of heli services is stopped on June 22. However, two helicopters are kept in backup for some time, so that the benefit of helicopter services can be made available to those passengers who cannot travel on foot at all. But now the weather conditions have started changing in the state of Uttarakhand. After June 17, the weather is bad today on June 18 as well.

Money will be refunded if the flight is cancelled: Due to this, helicopters are not able to fly to Kedarnath even today. In such a situation, those who had booked tickets from June 15 to 17 need not worry. Just like the entire money of the ticket is sent back to the account after the train is cancelled, similarly, the entire money will be refunded to the passengers after the helicopter service is cancelled due to bad weather or technical problems.

Team of experts sitting in Sahastradhara Holydrome: After five helicopter accidents in Uttarakhand within the last 45 days, the state government had decided to build a Command and Coordination Center. After which, a team of experts was deployed at Sahastradhara helidrome along with the decision to start the operation of heli services from June 17. A command and coordination center has been set up in this team to coordinate between the Meteorological Department, DGCA, heli operators and pilots. So that all important information including accurate weather information, circulars issued by DGCA can be exchanged in a better way.

Slots fixed for flight: Helicopters take off from Guptkashi, Sirsi and Phata helipads for Kedarnath Dham. Before the accident on June 15, DGCA standards were not being followed properly, but now special monitoring is being done on helicopter operations. In such a situation, under the circular issued by DGCA, three slots each have been fixed for every hour from Guptkashi and Phata and four slots every hour for Sirsi. But after starting special monitoring, helicopters could not fly on the very first day. The crew members of the heli service waited all day for the weather to clear for helicopter operations. Their wait is continuing since morning today as well.