DEHRADUN: A 'Sanjeevani' heli-ambulance en route to rescue a patient at Shri Kedarnath Dham made an emergency landing on Saturday morning after developing a technical snag; all on board, including an AIIMS medical team, are safe.
The helicopter sustained damage to its tail rotor during the hard landing. The incident is currently under investigation. A medical team from AIIMS Rishikesh was also on board. The pilot and the entire medical team are reportedly safe following the successful emergency landing.
District Tourism Officer and Nodal Heli Service, Rahul Chaubey, confirmed the incident. "A female devotee visiting Shri Kedarnath Dham for 'darshan' experienced significant breathing difficulties due to the high altitude," Chaubey told this newspaper.
"As her condition deteriorated, assistance was sought from the state government's 'Sanjeevani' heli-ambulance service. A medical team from AIIMS, including a doctor and nursing staff, was also travelling to Kedarnath on the helicopter."
Information indicates a technical snag developed in the helicopter moments before its planned landing at the main Kedarnath helipad. Sensing the issue immediately, the pilot wisely chose to land on a flat area just ahead of the helipad. The timely decision and skillful execution allowed for a safe emergency landing, ensuring the safety of all occupants.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will conduct a technical investigation to determine the exact cause of the fault. AIIMS Public Relations Officer (PRO), Sandeep Kumar, also confirmed the incident. He stated the AIIMS helicopter made a hard landing approximately 20 meters short of the Kedarnath helipad on Saturday.
The helicopter was reportedly en route from Rishikesh to Kedarnath to pick up a patient. The AIIMS PRO attributed the incident to a "hard landing".
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the AIIMS-run 'Sanjeevani' heli-ambulance service on October 29, 2024. Saturday’s incident comes days after a tragic helicopter crash near Gangnani on May 8 that claimed six lives.