Uttarakhand: Case filed against two managers of Aryan Heli Aviation in Kedarnath helicopter crash, company will pay Rs 5 lakh each as compensation
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A case has been filed against two managers of Aryan Company for the helicopter crash in Gaurikund’s Gauri Mai Khark. Fata’s revenue sub-inspector has filed a report against the company with Sonprayag police. In which it was said that this accident happened due to negligence.
Although the reason for the helicopter accident on Sunday morning is being told to be bad weather, it is also being considered as the heli company’s ignorance of the rules of UCADA and DGCA. In the complaint given in this regard, it was said that Aryan Heli Company was allotted the slot from 6 to 7 am at 5.24 am, but the company started flying the helicopter at 5.11 am, due to which the helicopter crashed at 5.24 am on the return from Kedarnath.
It was said in the complaint that DGCA and UCADA had asked to fly according to the flying slot in the SOP issued. In this regard, Aryan Aviation’s base manager Vikas Tomar and accountable manager Kaushik Pathak ignored it, which is gross negligence towards duties. Fata Revenue Sub Inspector has held both the managers of the company directly responsible for the death of seven people in the accident. A case has been registered against them in Kotwali Sonprayag under section 105 of Indian Penal Code 28/2025, Indian Justice Code 2023 and section 10 Aircraft Act 1934 vs Vikas Tomar and Kaushik Pathak. Kotwal Rakendra Singh Kathait said that further action is being taken as soon as the case is registered.
The company will give five lakh rupees compensation
Aryan Heli Aviation Company will give five lakh rupees each as compensation to the families of the deceased killed in the helicopter crash. The company’s accountable manager K Pathak said that the company expresses deep condolences to all the affected families. The company will fully cooperate with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau in investigating the causes of the accident and will give five lakh rupees compensation to all the affected families.
Six passengers and one pilot died
On Sunday at 5.21 am, Aryan Heli Company’s helicopter took off from Kedarnath helipad for Guptkashi carrying six passengers from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and other places. At around 5.25 minutes, this helicopter reached the forest area five km above Gaurikund, but here due to fog in Gauri Mai Khark, visibility was low and it hit a tree and crashed.
District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said that in this accident, all the six passengers including pilot Lieutenant Colonel Rajveer Singh Chauhan died on the spot. On receiving the information, NDRF, SDRF, DDRF, Police, Yatra Management Force personnel reached the spot and recovered all the bodies. The bodies were taken to Gaurikund and from there they were sent to District Hospital Rudraprayag. After the accident, the debris of the helicopter also burnt.
At the same time, Rahul Chaubey, nodal officer of Kedarnath Yatra helicopter service, said that due to zero visibility, the helicopter suddenly collided with a tree, which caused this accident. DGCA has banned helicopter service for Kedarnath for the next two days.
Passengers and pilots killed in the helicopter accident
- Lieutenant Colonel Rajveer Singh Chauhan, resident of C-42 Rana Colony, Shastri Nagar, Jaipur
- Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41), resident of Nandipera Road, Sain Mandir Maharashtra
- Shraddha Suresh Jaiswal (35) wife of Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal
- Kashi (23 months) daughter of Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal
- Vikram Singh Rawat (46), resident of Ransi village, PO Ukhimath, Rudraprayag
- Vinod Devi (66) and Tusti Singh (19), residents of Civil Line-2, Bijnoram Bagh, Bijnor, UP.
People informed when they saw smoke rising in the area
District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said that the helicopter was seen at Valley Point at 5:24 am. Due to heavy fog, visibility was zero. At 6.13 am, other helicopter companies informed that Aryan Company’s helicopter has not reached Guptkashi. During this time, on contacting, a person of Nepali origin and other women accompanying him informed that smoke is rising in the upper area. On receiving the information, the rescue team was immediately dispatched. He said that the helicopter has crashed in Gauri Mai Khark in the forest area five km above Gaurikund. This entire area is very inaccessible. The rescue team had to struggle a lot to reach here.
