Orders issued for investigation of Rudraprayag helicopter crash, strict action will be taken against those found negligent

Heli service for Char Dham will remain completely closed till Monday. The flying experiences of all the heli operators and pilots engaged in Char Dham in high Himalayan regions will be examined and the heli service will be resumed only after a meeting with all the heli operators. Now for better coordination and safe operation of heli flights in the state, a common “Command and Coordination Center” will be established in Dehradun, in which officials of DGCA, Disaster Department, Civil Aviation, UCADA, Heli Operator Company will be deployed. These instructions were given by Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami during a meeting held at the Chief Minister’s residence on Sunday.

The Chief Minister directed to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of Secretary Home Uttarakhand. In which representatives of DGCA, UKADA, Civil Aviation Department Government of India, ATC will be members. This committee will prepare a draft of standard operating rules giving priority to public safety. The committee will submit its report before the month of September. The Chief Minister has also given instructions to prepare a strict administrative and technical SOP (administrative and technical Standard Operating Procedure) for the operation of heli services in the state for the coming time.

The Chief Minister has also ordered a high-level inquiry into the helicopter crash in Rudraprayag. He said that whoever has been found negligent should be identified and punitive action should be taken against them. He said that protecting the lives of the common people is the priority of the state government. At no cost, lives will be allowed to be played with.

The Chief Minister said that only those pilots will be given permission who have long-term experience of flying helicopters in high Himalayan regions. He said that the guidelines set by DGCA should be made more strict, which should be followed 100 percent. The Chief Minister also directed to install more number of modern weather forecasting equipment in the Himalayan regions, so that more accurate weather information can be obtained. The Chief Minister also directed the District Administration Rudraprayag to contact the families of the people who lost their lives in the accident and make proper arrangements to send their bodies to the respective states.

On this occasion, Chief Secretary Mr. Anand Bardhan, Secretary Civil Aviation Mr. Sameer Kumar Sinha, DGCA Director General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Secretary Mr. Shailesh Bagauli, Secretary Mr. Sachin Kurve, Secretary Disaster Management Mr. Vinod Kumar Suman, CEO UKADA Mrs. Sonika, Director General Information Mr. Banshidhar Tiwari, officials of Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and others were present virtually.