Lok Sabha Question No. 4810 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-21
Subject: Kedarnath Helicopter Crash
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Dr. Bachhav Shobha Dinesh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 4810

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  21st August 2025 )

## KEDARNATH HELICOPTER CRASH

## 4810.    DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether a number of helicopter crashes and accidents have occurred in Kedarnath during the last two years and if so, the details thereof, incident-wise;
- (b)  the  number  of  persons  killed/injured  in  these  accidents  and  the  total  amount  of compensation paid to the families of the victims, accident-wise;
- (c) whether any inquiry has been conducted/ordered into these accidents and if so, the details and outcome thereof;
- (d) whether there exists a dedicated Air Traffic Control network station, weather station and emergency landing sites in the area and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the details of route information provided to pilots;
- (f) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to prevent helicopter accidents in future and to ensure the safety and security of pilots and passengers; and
- (g)  the  current  status  of  rules  and  their  implementation  regarding  prevention  of  helicopter flights in case of bad weather?

## ANSWER

## Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION      (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) to (c): Two accidents have been reported in Kedarnath since August 2023 to till date. The details are enclosed as Annexure A. Investigations have been ordered by the Director General, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and are under progress.;

;

Payment of compensation to the passenger or Next of Kin in case of death or bodily injury to the passenger, caused by air accident / incident is governed by the provisions of Carriage by Air Act, 1972. India has ratified the Montreal Convention, 1999 by making amendments to the Carriage by Air Act, 1972 in 2009. As per the said act, the liability of payment of compensation in case of death, delay, damage or loss to persons, baggage or cargo, is of the carriers.;

;

(d) to (g): Airport Authority of India (AAI) does not provide Air Traffic Control services in Kedarnath.

; Hill flying in Kedarnath is conducted under Visual Flying Rules (VFR) as prescribed in Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) and Operation Circular 02 of 2023 of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). These CARs and Ops Circular lay down weather conditions/precautions in flying. Further, route information is also prescribed in Operations Circular 02 of 2023.; ; DGCA has reiterated safety norms for helicopter operations in the country including Chardham Yatra, focusing on access control, improving parking arrangements, regulating slot allocations, enhancing  pilot  training,  and  ensuring  strict  adherence  to  Standard  Operating  Procedures (SOPs).; ; In  addition,  the  DGCA  has  initiated  additional  surveillance  and  safety  audits  of  helicopter operations for the Chardham Yatra.

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## Annexure A

## Details of Accidents reported in Kedarnath since August 2023

| Date        | Place             | Aircraft Type   | Aircraf t Reg   | Operato r Name          | No. of Casualties/injurie s   |
|-------------|-------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------------|-------------------------------|
| 15- Jun- 25 | GauriKun d        | Bell 407        | VT- BKA         | Aryan Aviation Pvt. Ltd | Casualties: 07 Injuries: Nil  |
| 17- May -25 | Kedarnath Helipad | Airbus AS350B 2 | VT- KBS         | Pinnacle Air Pvt. Ltd.  | Casualties: Nil Injuries: Nil |

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