Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 4 Jun: In a major initiative aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness ahead of the forthcoming monsoon season, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has ensured a unique arrangement under which the helicopter operators engaged in the Char Dham Yatra are providing free flying hours for emergency response and rescue operations across the State.
Under this special arrangement, each helicopter company operating during the Char Dham Yatra has committed 10 free flying hours to UCADA for disaster management and emergency purposes. With eight helicopter operators currently serving the pilgrimage circuit, a total of 80 free flying hours have been secured by UCADA for use in relief, rescue and medical emergency operations.
According to Chief Executive Officer of UCADA and Ashish Chauhan, who is currently also District Magistrate of Dehradun, the flying hours are being utilised for air rescue missions, medical evacuations and transportation of relief material to remote and inaccessible areas. Officials said that more than 100 pilgrims and other needy persons have already been airlifted to safety under this arrangement since April this year. Over the past one year, more than 200 people have been successfully rescued during various disaster response and emergency operations carried out with the help of helicopter services.
It may be reminded here that, in Uttarakhand’s mountainous terrain, helicopter services often become a lifeline during natural calamities such as the landslides, cloudbursts, heavy rainfall and other weather-related disasters. During the monsoon season, when road connectivity is frequently disrupted in remote regions, these free flying hours will enable the administration to respond swiftly to emergencies and ensure timely delivery of relief and rescue assistance to affected areas. The UCADA claims that the arrangement is expected to significantly enhance the speed and effectiveness of disaster response operations while improving access to emergency support for people stranded in difficult terrain.
The initiative has been undertaken in line with the directions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to strengthen disaster preparedness and ensure effective emergency management across the State. Officials claim that the model represents an innovative approach to disaster response and can also serve as an example for other states facing similar geographical and climatic challenges.
CEO Ashish Chauhan said the provision for 10 free flying hours from each helicopter operator has been incorporated during the tender process for the selection of companies operating on the Char Dham route. He said the objective was to ensure the availability of immediate air support during medical emergencies, assist pilgrims stranded in high-altitude regions and facilitate rapid relief and rescue operations whenever required. Chauhan added that the arrangement is proving highly effective not only in disaster management but also in enhancing the safety and security of pilgrims undertaking the Char Dham Yatra.
UCADA Head of Operations Amit Sharma said that the helicopter services are being extensively used to evacuate pilgrims who fall ill or face medical emergencies during the pilgrimage. He noted that more than 200 people had been successfully rescued over the past year, while over 100 pilgrims from the Kedarnath region alone had been provided air rescue and medical evacuation facilities during the current Char Dham Yatra season.
With the monsoon approaching and the possibility of weather-related emergencies increasing across the Himalayan State, the availability of dedicated helicopter flying hours is expected to provide a critical boost to Uttarakhand’s disaster management capabilities and help authorities mount faster and more effective rescue operations whenever required.
