New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) Six helicopter accidents have happened during the Char Dham Yatra in the last five years, with four of the accidents this year till June, according to official data.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Monday said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated additional surveillance and safety audits of helicopter operations for the Char Dham Yatra.

There were one accident each in 2022 and 2023 while there were no accidents in 2021 and 2024 during Char Dham Yatra. However, this year till June, there have been four helicopter accidents, as per the data shared by the minister.

All the four crashes that happened this year are being probed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

DGCA has also directed all the stakeholders to ensure compliance with safety norms for the Char Dham Yatra focusing on access control, improving parking arrangements, regulating slot allocations, enhancing pilot training, and ensuring strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the minister said.

In the helicopter crash on May 8, six people were killed and AAIB's preliminary report found that the main rotor blade of the chopper struck an overhead fibre cable, before tumbling down the hillside and coming to rest against a tree. PTI RAM TRB

Aviation safety oversight heightens after multiple helicopter crashes, prompting increased audits and stricter operational compliance measures. Six helicopter accidents during the Char Dham Yatra over five years, with multiple incidents in the current season, have triggered AAIB investigations into recent crashes and DGCA-led additional surveillance and safety audits. DGCA has directed stakeholders to ensure compliance with safety norms and SOPs, including access control, parking arrangements, slot regulation, and enhanced pilot training to strengthen oversight and address operational risks.