BIJNOR (UCAN): The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India [CBCI] urged the government of northern Uttarakhand state to boost safety following several air accidents that killed Hindu pilgrims in less than two months.
In the latest tragedy, a helicopter carrying people from Kedarnath in the Rudraprayag district crashed on June 15, killing all seven on board including the pilot. Following initial investigations, the authorities said the helicopter fell victim to bad weather in the Himalayan region.
“The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India expresses its deepest condolences to the families of pilgrims who lost their lives in the recent helicopter crash during Kedarnath Yatra. May the departed souls rest in peace,” conference spokesman, Father Robinson Rodrigues, said.
“We are perturbed by the series of helicopter accidents in a short span, carrying pilgrims. The CBCI urges the government to investigate these incidents and take immediate measures to ensure the safety and security of our Hindu brothers and sisters, undertaking this sacred journey,” Father Rodrigues said.
It was the fifth helicopter accident since the famed Himalayan temple, Kedarnath, opened on May 2 for the Char Dham in Uttarakhand, officials told media.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India expresses its deepest condolences to the families of pilgrims who lost their lives in the recent helicopter crash during Kedarnath Yatra
Char Dham is a set of four pilgrimage sites and Hindus believe that visiting them helps achieve moksha or release from the cycle of rebirth.
The accidents included three emergency landings and two crashes during this period.
The latest crash came three days after the Air India plane crash that killed at least 270 people including 241 out of 242 on board.
Father Jose Alukkal, chancellor of the Diocese of Bijnor, which covers Uttarakhand, said that more than a million pilgrims and tourists visit the Kedarnath temple in May and June, before the monsoon, with people opting to walk or go by horse or helicopter.
Accidents such as air crashes are reported every year during pilgrimages “but unfortunately the government does not learn from past mistakes,” Father Alukkal said.
As we mourn the death of Hindu pilgrims, we urge the government to take proper care and protective measures regarding air services
Father Alukkal
“As we mourn the death of Hindu pilgrims, we urge the government to take proper care and protective measures regarding air services,” he said, adding that safety protocols must be strictly followed as to a helicopter’s airworthiness and weather conditions.
“There should be no compromise with safety for making quick money while endangering lives of pilgrims,” he added.
Arpan Yadhuvanshi, head of the state’s disaster response team said the weather was unsuitable for air travel at the time of the crash.
“The valley was covered in dense fog [at the time of the crash],” he reportedly said, adding that rescuers trekked five kilometres through mountainous terrain to reach the helicopter wreckage.
On June 15, the police charged two managers of the helicopter firm, Aryan Aviation, for culpable homicide. They are accused of gross negligence for ignoring bad weather conditions.
Uttarakhand state is home to several Hindu pilgrimage sites nestled high up in the Himalayas. Due to poor weather the sites are open to the public from April-May and October-November.
However, about 100 pilgrims die in various accidents annually, reports say.
