Kedarnath Heli Services Halted: 13,000+ Tickets Cancelled, ₹8.5 Cr Loss Amid Safety Fears

Kedarnath (The Uttam Hindu) : Following recent helicopter accidents and ongoing adverse weather conditions, helicopter services in the Kedarnath valley have come to a complete standstill, causing major disruptions to the annual pilgrimage and significant financial losses to aviation operators.

For the past seven days, not a single helicopter has taken off from the key helipads at Guptkashi, Phata, and Sersi due to poor visibility and foggy conditions. The grounding of flights has left thousands of pilgrims stranded or forced to abandon their yatra without receiving darshan at the revered Kedarnath temple.

Since the beginning of the Yatra season, a total of 13,304 helicopter tickets have been cancelled, resulting in estimated losses of over ₹8.65 crore to the involved aviation companies. On Saturday alone, 658 tickets were cancelled as the weather once again did not permit any helicopter operations.

Companies providing heli-services such as Pawan Hans, Global Vectra, Trans Bharat, Himalayan Heli, and Aero Heli have suspended operations, citing safety concerns for passengers and crew. The recent incidents have heightened anxiety among both service providers and devotees, further contributing to the halt in operations.

Officials say the companies are now preparing to withdraw completely from the valley, marking an unprecedented development during the annual pilgrimage season. “The weather has been consistently unfavorable, with dense fog blanketing the valley each morning. Given the recent accidents, flying in these conditions would be extremely risky,” said an official from the local aviation authority.

With the helicopter services suspended, footfall at Kedarnath has also dropped, and authorities are working on alternative arrangements for stranded pilgrims. The government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the suspension, but sources suggest a detailed review of safety protocols and weather forecasting systems is underway to prevent such crises in future yatra seasons.