Seven people, including a toddler, were killed in a tragic helicopter crash on Sunday in the Himalayas, India. The helicopter was carrying Hindu pilgrims from the Kedarnath Temple when it went down.
All six passengers and the pilot died in the crash, which authorities believe was caused by poor weather conditions.
The disaster occurred just days after another fatal aviation incident in India involving a passenger plane that killed at least 279 people.
In response to the helicopter crash, Indian civil aviation authorities have temporarily suspended chopper services to Himalayan shrines.
State tourism and disaster officials emphasized the major role of unpredictable weather in flight safety. A chief minister vowed “zero tolerance” for any compromise in passenger safety, calling for stricter aviation regulation in the region.
The Kedarnath Temple and other Himalayan shrines attract large numbers of pilgrims during the summer. Many choose helicopters to avoid the long and difficult trek.
However, repeated incidents this season have raised serious concerns over the safety of these air services.
