In a heart-wrenching tragedy, Captain Rajveer Singh Chauhan, the pilot of the ill-fated helicopter that crashed near Kedarnath Dham on June 15, was revealed to have welcomed twin babies just two months ago. The crash, which occurred in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, claimed the lives of all seven people onboard, including an infant and five other passengers.
A Decorated Pilot and Devoted Family Man
Captain Chauhan, a native of Jaipur, had served in the Indian Army for over 15 years before joining Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd in October 2024. Known for his extensive flying experience across challenging terrains, he was operating the helicopter on a return trip from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi when the crash occurred around 5:20 AM.
His wife, a serving officer in the Indian armed forces, is now left to care for their newborn twins amid this devastating loss.
Victims and Survivors
Among the deceased were a couple and their 2-year-old daughter, while their son survived as he had stayed back with his grandfather. The passengers hailed from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
Safety Concerns and Official Response
This marks the sixth helicopter crash in 40 days, raising serious concerns about aviation safety during the Char Dham Yatra. The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) confirmed that the helicopter belonged to Aryan Aviation.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered a high-level probe and deployed rescue teams to the site.
