Helicopter sorties were allowed despite orange alert and CMO advice to regulate tourists, says activist

Wreckage of a private helicopter operated by Trans Bharat Aviation lying on a hillside near Chai village in the Joshimath area of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, on Friday, October 30, 2026. File | Photo Credit: PTI

Friday’s (October 30, 2026) helicopter crash on the Badrinath-Dehradun route, which killed six people, including the pilot, has brought Uttarakhand’s helicopter safety regulations under fresh scrutiny, particularly the decision to allow flights despite weather warnings issued for the region.

Activist Anoop Nautiyal said the tragedy was particularly disturbing as weather warnings had been issued in advance. An orange alert (for heavy to very heavy rainfall and snowfall) had been issued for five districts, including Chamoli, for October 30.

“A press release issued at 5.44 p.m. on October 29, following a meeting chaired by Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, had called for heightened vigilance and directed that passengers be moved to safe locations in the event of deteriorating weather,” Mr. Nautiyal said.

He said the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) had also reiterated these concerns in a communication issued at 8.01 a.m. on October 30, advising authorities to regulate tourist movement in high-altitude areas in view of the orange alert.