By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
DEHRADUN, 10 May: The helicopter services to Kedarnath have become operational once again after a brief halt caused due to delay in ATC clearance. The suspension of the chopper services had resulted in a narrative that the chopper services to Kedanath have been halted indefinitely in wake of the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan. Some social media posts had linked this brief halt with a chopper crash that had occurred a few days ago in Uttarkashi district on way to Gangotri Dham.
However, the government on Saturday came out with a categorical clarification that the Char Dham Yatra in the state is proceeding smoothly and that over 4 lakh devotees had already visited the sacred Dhams so far. Helicopter services for Kedarnath Dham were briefly suspended due to clearance issues but have now resumed following approval from the Central Air Traffic Control (ATC).
The suspension came amid heightened security concerns due to Indo-Pak tensions, prompting ATC to review all air travel across the country. As a result, heli services for Kedarnath were halted for a few hours but have now been restored, ensuring uninterrupted pilgrimage for devotees.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has himself reassured pilgrims through a social media post, stating that the state government is committed to making the journey safe and smooth. He urged devotees not to pay attention to rumours and encouraged them to seek assistance through helpline numbers 1364 and 0135-1364.
Director General of Information Banshidhar Tiwari confirmed that heli services for Kedarnath are operating without disruption.
This was also confirmed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) UCADA, Sonika. Sonika affirmed that helicopter services for the Char Dham Yatra are running smoothly. She added that the temporary suspension was due to NOC and approval-related issues, which have now been resolved.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also held a high-level review meeting at the government residence, discussing various aspects of the Char Dham Yatra and ensuring that all preparations align with central guidelines. Senior officials and district officers participated virtually in the meeting.
Sonika, CEO of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority, also affirmed that helicopter services for the Char Dham Yatra are running smoothly. The temporary suspension was due to NOC and approval-related issues, which have now been resolved.
Additionally, reports indicate that the Centre has advised the Uttarakhand government to deploy National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel to manage the increasing crowd at the Char Dham sites. The unprecedented footfall has led to concerns over mismanagement, prompting authorities to ban offline registrations until May 31.
In a separate incident, a private helicopter heading towards Gangotri temple crashed near River Bhagirathi on May 8, resulting in the deaths of six people, including five women and the pilot. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
