Another Char Dham disaster

A helicopter carrying pilgrims from the Kedarnath shrine crashed early Sunday in the forests of Gaurikund amid poor visibility, killing all seven people on board, the fifth helicopter accident on the Chardham Yatra route since the pilgrimage started April 30.

- PNN & AGENCIES

Just days after an Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad claimed 274 lives, a helicopter carrying pilgrims from Kedarnath crashed in Uttarakhand, killing all seven on board. This tragic incident highlights growing concerns over air safety standards in India, particularly on the Char Dham pilgrimage routes where helicopter crashes and emergency landings have become alarmingly frequent. On May 8, a chopper en route to Gangotri crashed in Uttarkashi, killing six. On May 12, a helicopter from Badrinath made an emergency landing due to poor visibility. Another crash-landing occurred near Kedarnath May 17 involving a heli ambulance. On June 7, a chopper made an emergency landing in Rudraprayag district due to technical issues. Opposition leaders and activists blame the government's lack of oversight, alleging that profit-driven private