The Char Dham Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage in Uttarakhand, has been marred by four helicopter accidents in 2025 alone, contributing to six crashes over the past five years, according to official data shared in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol revealed that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched enhanced surveillance and safety audits for helicopter operations during the yatra. The data indicates one accident each in 2022 and 2023, none in 2021 and 2024, but a concerning spike with four incidents by June 2025. All four crashes this year are under investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

A deadly crash on May 8 claimed six lives, with the AAIB’s preliminary report citing a main rotor blade striking an overhead fibre cable, causing the helicopter to tumble down a hillside and crash against a tree.

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In response, the DGCA has mandated stricter compliance with safety norms, focusing on access control, improved parking, regulated slot allocations, enhanced pilot training, and adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The surge in accidents has raised alarms, prompting urgent measures to ensure pilgrim safety during the revered yatra.

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