India, Jan. 9 -- The chopper that crashed near Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district in June 2025, killing seven people on board, encountered cloud cover at the Kedarnath valley exit point, according to the preliminary findings of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

The Bell 407 chopper was en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi as part of the Char Dham pilgrimage operations when it crashed on June 15, seven days after another helicopter carrying five pilgrims crash-landed on the Guptkashi-Gaurikund highway. On May 17, a heli ambulance from AIIMS Rishikesh on a rescue mission crash-landed near Kedarnath, damaging the tail rotor.

The series of accidents highlighted growing safety concerns surrounding helicopter services on the C...