New Delhi: The first phase of helicopter operations for the Char Dham Yatra 2026 concluded successfully on June 26, with the Civil Aviation Ministry highlighting an incident-free season achieved through strict safety measures and enhanced regulatory oversight.
According to the ministry, around 400 helicopter movements were conducted daily during the pilgrimage season that began in April. A total of 12,032 shuttle flights transported 67,064 pilgrims, while 2,065 charter operations served another 11,715 devotees across the Char Dham circuit.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said extensive preparations were undertaken before the start of the Yatra in coordination with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) and the state government.
Given the challenging Himalayan terrain and unpredictable weather conditions, authorities strengthened air traffic management, weather monitoring and operational surveillance. Dedicated air traffic control services, integrated command centres, helicopter tracking systems and additional weather observation equipment were deployed.
The DGCA also tightened pilot qualification norms, requiring extensive hill-flying experience for operators in the region.
The ministry said measures such as passenger load restrictions, enhanced communication systems and continuous safety audits helped ensure safe operations throughout the pilgrimage season, reaffirming the government’s commitment to aviation safety and pilgrim convenience.
