The country is trying and failing to recover from the horrifying Air India crash in Ahmedabad, when yet another disastrous crash added to the death toll. On Sunday, June 15, 2025, a helicopter tragically crashed while returning with pilgrims from Kedarnath, breaking into a fire that claimed the lives of all seven onboard. Among the victims was the pilot and six pilgrims, including a 23-month-old infant. One of the victims was a 37-year-old pilot who recently welcomed twins.
A family celebration that never came true
According to information, the victims of the Kedarnath chopper crash this morning included the pilot, 37-year-old retired Lieutenant Colonel Rajveer Singh Chauhan from Jaipur, a father of four-month-old twins who had only recently returned to duty after a family break. A seasoned pilot from Jaipur, Rajveer had recently welcomed twin babies into his family after 14 years of marriage. He had only returned to duty 20 days ago after spending quality time with his wife and newborns. He was also supposed to join the Jalwa Pujan ceremony with his family on June 30, 2025, a Rajasthani ritual to celebrate newborns.
Rajveer was a resident of Jaipur’s Shastri Nagar who had served the Indian Army for over 15 years as an accomplished aviator. After retiring last year, he joined Aryan Aviation Private Ltd in October 2024 as a civil pilot.
About the chopper crash
On the fateful morning of June 15, 2025, Aryan Aviation’s Bell 407 chopper took off from the Kedarnath helipad at around 5:20 A.M. but soon lost contact with ground control. The aircraft crashed into a forested area near Gaurikund due to sudden adversity in weather conditions, catching fire on impact. All seven occupants on board, including Rajiv, perished in the blaze. This is the fifth chopper disaster the area has seen within the last two months.
The other casualties comprised a Maharashtrian family of three — 41-year-old Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal, his wife Shradha Rajkumar Jaiswal (35), and their 23-month-old infant Kashi; 46-year-old Vikram from Rudraprayag; and two residents of Uttar Pradesh, Vinod Dev (66) and Tusti Singh (29). Speaking about the crash, the district tourism officer, Rahul Chaubey, told Hindustan Times:
“There were seven people on board, including the pilot, five passengers and an infant. The chopper was returning from Kedarnath Dham to its base in Guptkashi when it encountered sudden adverse weather conditions in the valley. The pilot attempted to navigate the helicopter out of the valley; however, the aircraft crashed during the effort.”
The Air India crash that shook the nation
This tragedy comes only days after India witnessed one of the most disastrous aeroplane crashes in a decade, when the Air India AI171 crash in Ahmedabad killed all 241 onboard and several on the ground. Among the deceased was Gujarat’s former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was on his way to London to meet his family.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally visited Rupani’s family in Rajkot to offer condolences. On June 15, 2025, at 11:10 A.M., DNA profiling confirmed the late BJP leader’s mortal remains, which have been sent to Rupani’s hometown in Rajkot.
Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased!
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