Char Dham Yatra helicopter operations record 400 daily movements without incident, ministry says

The Ministry of Civil Aviation said the first phase of Char Dham Yatra helicopter operations, ending June 26, recorded about 400 daily movements without incidents. It reported 12,032 shuttle departures and 2,065 charter operations, carrying more than 78,000 pilgrims. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu cited stronger oversight and a 70% passenger load cap to support safety.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation said helicopter services in the first phase of the Char Dham Yatra ran without incidents. The phase ended on June 26. The ministry said about 400 helicopter movements took place each day. Operations began in April with the yatra’s opening. The ministry linked the result to strict safety checks.

Officials reported 12,032 shuttle departures that carried 67,064 pilgrims across the Char Dham sector. The ministry also counted 2,065 charter operations, serving 11,715 pilgrims. It said the flights provided reliable connectivity during the period. The ministry noted that safety rules were followed through daily operations.

Char Dham Yatra helicopter operations: safety review and oversight

The ministry acknowledged that helicopter mishaps happened in earlier Char Dham Yatra seasons. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said steps followed those past incidents. "Following the unfortunate incidents reported in previous seasons, we undertook a comprehensive review of every aspect of helicopter operations,\" Naidu said. The minister described a broad review of the system.

Naidu said authorities focused on fixing issues found during the review. \"We identified root causes, strengthened regulatory oversight, enhanced air traffic coordination, upgraded operational infrastructure and aligned every stakeholder around one common objective: aviation safety,\" Naidu said. The ministry said these steps guided planning for the first phase. It said the aim was safer flying across the sector.

Char Dham Yatra helicopter operations: caps, equipment and helipad controls

To raise safety, the ministry said passenger loads were limited to 70 per cent capacity. It also said charter operations were controlled using suitable caps. High-tension transmission lines received aviation safety markers and warning balloons. The ministry said this improved visibility for pilots in difficult zones.

The ministry said every helicopter used in the Char Dham Yatra carried a Helicopter Tracking Device. It also introduced a common system for ground handling and crowd management. The ministry said this system worked across operational helipads. It aimed to improve passenger flow and coordination on the ground.

Char Dham Yatra helicopter operations: weather systems and Himalayan risks

Weather tracking was strengthened through coordination with the India Meteorological Department, the ministry said. It added five Automatic Weather Observation Systems AWOS to support monitoring. Ceilometers were installed at Sitapur, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Jhala and Kharsali. The ministry said these tools improved operational decisions during changing conditions.

The ministry said helicopter flights in the Himalayan region face several operational challenges. It cited factors such as rugged terrain. Even so, the ministry said the first phase ended with incident-free flying. It said the daily pace stayed near 400 movements. The ministry linked this performance to the safety steps taken.

With inputs from PTI