Good News! Successful Helicopter Landing at Yamunotri Helipad, Heli Service to Start Soon
Ahead of the Char Dham Yatra starting April 30, a successful trial landing at Yamunotri's under-construction helipad near Garud Ganga marks a major milestone. This development brings hope for improved connectivity and emergency support during the Yatra.
Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand): In a major development ahead of the upcoming Char Dham Yatra, a successful helicopter landing trial was conducted at the under-construction helipad near Garud Ganga in Yamunotri. The move is expected to boost connectivity for pilgrims and provide critical support in emergency situations.
The Yamunotri helipad, being developed by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) through executing agency BRIDCUL at a cost of around ₹60 lakh, achieved its first successful helicopter landing on Wednesday. This came after a failed attempt the previous day due to technical issues.
The surface work of the helipad has been completed, and the trial landing was done to evaluate the site’s readiness and assess wind and weather conditions. After briefly touching down, the helicopter successfully took off again, confirming the helipad’s operational potential. The trial was confirmed by Barkot police station in-charge Deepak Kathait, who stated that the landing was smooth and safe.
Purushottam Uniyal, spokesperson for the Yamunotri Temple Committee, expressed hope that the heli service would be a boon for the Yatra and during emergencies. He also thanked the administration for accelerating such vital infrastructure projects.
In parallel, the Irrigation Department has initiated debris removal and land-leveling work near the temple site. The region suffered significant damage during the July floods, which impacted the temple’s Garmkund and the path up to Jankichatti. Although protective work was delayed after the temple closed for winter, around ₹18 crore has now been sanctioned for restoration and safety efforts.
However, tensions have emerged as local priests and temple authorities have raised objections. They claim that the flood protection work is inadequate and oppose the ongoing efforts without proper machinery. Leaders including Temple Committee Vice President Sanjeev Uniyal, Co-Secretary Gaurav Uniyal, and Panch Pada Committee members have warned that superficial or hasty measures will not be tolerated.
Despite the concerns, the successful helicopter trial marks a positive step toward smoother and safer access to one of the most remote Char Dham sites.
