13 hrs ago
Technical Fault Grounds Direct Kedarnath and Badrinath Helicopter Flights
A helicopter company planned to restart flights from Dehradun to the Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines after the monsoon break.
But its Mi-17 helicopter developed a technical problem.
The company needs a spare part from another country, and it has not arrived yet.
So the planned flights were cancelled.
Officials said the direct flights may not return until the 2027 pilgrimage season.
Helicopter trips from nearby Kedarnath helipads were still operating.
Earlier in the season, the Dehradun service carried nearly 1,450 pilgrims.
Its helicopter could carry 18 people and made two trips a day.
Rudraksh Aviation cancelled planned direct helicopter flights from Dehradun to Kedarnath and Badrinath after its Mi-17 developed a technical fault.
The flights were scheduled to resume on September 15 after a monsoon suspension, but an imported spare part has been delayed.
Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority officials said the direct service may return during the 2027 pilgrimage season.
Helicopter services from helipads near Kedarnath continued, UCADA said; these are separate from the suspended direct flights from Dehradun.
The service carried nearly 1,450 pilgrims between April 30 and June 13, with two daily flights in an 18-passenger helicopter.
- Who
- Rudraksh Aviation, with Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority officials commenting on the service.
- What
- Direct helicopter flights from Dehradun to Kedarnath and Badrinath were cancelled after a technical fault and delay in obtaining a spare part.
- Where
- From Jolly Grant in Dehradun to Kedarnath and Badrinath, Uttarakhand.
- When
- Flights were scheduled to restart on September 15; officials said services may return in the 2027 pilgrimage season. The article does not specify the year of the September date.
- Why
- A technical fault in the Mi-17 helicopter and a delayed spare part from abroad prevented the flights from resuming.
UCADA officials
Rudraksh Aviation manager
Likely timing for service to return
UCADA officials
UCADA officials said the direct service was now likely to restart during the 2027 pilgrimage season.
Rudraksh Aviation manager
Manager P.K. Chabra hoped the flights would resume from Jolly Grant in the next Yatra season, after the fault was fixed.
Key facts
- Operator
- Rudraksh Aviation
- Aircraft
- Mi-17 helicopter
- Planned restart
- September 15, after the monsoon suspension
- Possible return
- UCADA officials said the service may restart in the 2027 pilgrimage season
- Seasonal service period
- April 30 to June 13
- Passengers carried
- Nearly 1,450
- Aircraft capacity and schedule
- 18 pilgrims; two flights daily
- Other helicopter services
- Flights from helipads near Kedarnath were continuing
Sources
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