Yet another helicopter crash has taken place in Uttarakhand – on Sunday morning in a heavily wooded area near Gaurikund, killing seven people, including a child. It was flying on the sector ‘Shri Kedarnath ji – Aryan Helipad, Guptkashi’ when it crashed during its brief 10-minute flight. Although bad weather is reported to be the cause, only a proper inquiry will ascertain the actual reason. This is the fifth such incident since the portals of Kedarnath Dham were opened on 2 May. Only days earlier, a chopper force-landed on the Rudraprayag – Gaurikund Highway, due to a technical fault, fortunately with no fatalities.
The big question is whether this is due to lapses on the part of the authorities responsible for ensuring safety standards as well as professional management and maintenance by aviation companies. During the crash in Gangnani, earlier, which had led to the death of six tourists being ferried to Harshil, these questions had been raised in this column, but it seems the required corrective action has not been taken. “The state government has established rules, along with the usual regulatory structure of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), regarding safe conduct of such flights, but the question is whether these are being followed in the spirit as much as the letter,” it had been stated. Also, “It should not be, for instance, that old helicopters, retired from service by larger companies are purchased for operations in places like Uttarakhand by small time operators to kickstart a ferry service. There is nothing wrong, of course, with establishing start-ups in a burgeoning industry, but wise business policy requires that emphasis is placed on quality, rather than seeking to extract every last mile out of an aircraft.”
Have these incidents awakened the state government to the dangers of promoting a service whose safety cannot be guaranteed under the present circumstances, and the vagaries of weather in the hills? Just the alacrity with which flights were allowed to continue after the Gangnani crash indicates that due process was not followed. Is it not better to be safe than sorry in such matters that not only put lives at risk but bring a bad name to Uttarakhand’s much sought after pilgrimages? How technically qualified are those in charge of regulating helicopter services in the state? Has it just been left to the odd bureaucrat following instructions from the top? Considering that there is a reservoir of ex-servicemen who have spent lifetimes conducting helicopter operations, should not a few be roped in to manage this sector? While such options are explored, it would be wise for the government to suspend all commercial helicopter flights except in cases of medical emergencies till such time a well-considered operational strategy is chalked out.
