India is still mourning the devastating Air India AI171 crash when another heartbreaking aviation tragedy struck—this time in the holy hills of Kedarnath. On June 15, 2025, a Bell 407 chopper belonging to Aryan Aviation crashed near Gaurikund, claiming the lives of seven people, including a 23-month-old infant and the pilot, 37-year-old Retired Lt Col Rajveer Singh Chauhan, who had just become a father to twins after 14 years of marriage.
A Devoted Soldier, A Loving Father, A Tragic Loss
Among the victims was Rajveer Singh Chauhan, a former Indian Army aviator who had served the country for over 15 years before retiring and transitioning into a civil aviation role. Hailing from Shastri Nagar, Jaipur, Rajveer joined Aryan Aviation in October 2024, flying pilgrims to and from the Kedarnath temple.
Rajveer’s personal life had recently taken a joyous turn — after 14 years of marriage, he and his wife were blessed with twin babies just four months ago. He had taken time off to be with his family and only returned to duty 20 days ago. His family had been preparing for the Jalwa Pujan ceremony, a Rajasthani tradition to welcome newborns, scheduled for June 30 — a celebration he would never attend.
“He had just become a father… we were preparing for a family celebration. This tragedy has left us numb,” a family member shared.
What Happened in the Kedarnath Helicopter Crash
On the morning of June 15, 2025, the Bell 407 helicopter took off from Kedarnath helipad at 5:20 AM, carrying six pilgrims and the pilot. Due to sudden adverse weather conditions, the chopper lost contact with ground control and crashed into a dense forest area near Gaurikund, catching fire upon impact.
All seven occupants perished in the crash, including:
- Lt Col (Retd) Rajveer Singh Chauhan, pilot (Jaipur)
- Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41) – passenger (Maharashtra)
- Shradha Rajkumar Jaiswal (35) – his wife
- Kashi Jaiswal (23 months) – their infant child
- Vikram (46) – resident of Rudraprayag
- Vinod Dev (66) – from Uttar Pradesh
- Tusti Singh (29) – from Uttar Pradesh
This marked the fifth chopper crash in the Kedarnath region in two months, raising serious concerns over flight safety in the region, especially during unpredictable weather patterns.
“The chopper encountered sudden bad weather in the valley and lost altitude. Despite the pilot’s attempt to steer it out, the aircraft crashed into the hillside,” said District Tourism Officer Rahul Chaubey.
A Nation Reeling from Multiple Air Tragedies
This shocking crash came just days after the June 12 Air India AI171 plane crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 241 passengers and 12 crew members, including former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani. He was en route to London when the disaster occurred. PM Narendra Modi personally met with the Rupani family in Rajkot to offer condolences, and DNA profiling confirmed the BJP leader’s remains on June 15.
The two back-to-back tragedies have brought the nation into deep mourning. Aviation safety, particularly in sensitive areas like Kedarnath, is now under scrutiny.
Final Thoughts
The Kedarnath chopper crash has not only claimed lives but shattered families. For Lt Col Rajveer Singh Chauhan, a devoted soldier, loving husband, and new father, fate delivered a cruel blow just when he had everything to live for.
As India mourns yet another aviation tragedy, the question remains — how many more lives will be lost before serious reform and weather-based risk management are prioritized for pilgrim routes?