Following a tragic helicopter crash that claimed seven lives, including that of an infant, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has decided to resume helicopter services to Kedarnath starting from Tuesday, 17 June, as reported by ANI.

The decision was communicated through a statement issued by UCADA on Tuesday, following the suspension of services announced by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in the wake of the accident.

CM Dhami had stated to ANI that the helicopter service would be halted for two days to ensure passenger safety, emphasizing the need for strict compliance with safety norms issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation had earlier reduced the frequencies of helicopter operations to Char Dham as a precautionary measure in response to the crash.

CM Dhami stressed the importance of pilots having experience in the region while flying in the upper Himalayan areas, urging aviation companies to prioritize this aspect.

The tragic helicopter crash near Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district resulted in the loss of seven lives, including the pilot, as the Aryan Aviation Helicopter was en route from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi when the incident occurred at 5:30 am.

The victims have been identified as Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan (39), Vikram Rawat (47), Vinod Devi (66), Trishti Singh (19), Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41), Shraddha Jaiswal, and Kashi Jaiswal (2).

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will conduct an investigation into the crash to determine the cause of the tragic incident.