Jammu: Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has asked Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to conduct a detailed safety audit of the helicopter operations between Katra-Sanjichhat sector in Jammu and Kashmir, where a recent chopper crash killed six pilgrims and a woman pilot.
The chopper services, which were suspended as a precautionary measure after the crash in Katra on Monday, resumed its operations today with trial flights.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has asked DGCA to conduct a safety audit in detail in the particular belt in Reasi district, from where nearly one crore people visit the shrine every year.
"The CEO of the Shrine Board, on the instructions of J&K Governor N N Vohra who is also the Chairman of the Board, approached the DGCA to separately conduct a detailed safety audit of the Heli operations between Katra-Sanjichhat-Katra sector," a senior official of Board said.
A team of DGCA visited the crash spot yesterday and initiated a detailed investigation in the accident.
The 2010-make chopper of private airliner Himalayan Heli service, which was carrying six pilgrims from Sanjichat helipad in Trikuta hills, crashed at the new bus stand area in Katra.
A separate team of DGCA officials reached Katra today and started conducting audits on various air safety norms such as airworthiness of the helicopters, operation and maintenance procedure being followed by the operators, the official said.
The Shrine Board officers also attended the last rites of all the passengers in Jammu and Delhi.
The Board also attended to the family members of the deceased pilot and made arrangements for the transportation of her body to Delhi.
Meanwhile, the yatra to the Holy Shrine is proceeding normally and a fair amount of pilgrims were seen trekking the shrine on foot, ponies and palanquins.
Deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh yesterday said, "As per initial information, a bird got caught in the tail rotor as a result of which it stopped functioning. Finding the area below populated, the woman pilot chose a safe landing at the new bus stand to avoid casualties on the ground.
"As the plane was descending, its rotors got entwined in electrical wires and caught fire," he had said.
A separate magisterial probe was ordered by the Jammu and Kashmir government into the incident yesterday.
The chopper services, which were suspended as a precautionary measure after the crash in Katra on Monday, resumed its operations today with trial flights.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has asked DGCA to conduct a safety audit in detail in the particular belt in Reasi district, from where nearly one crore people visit the shrine every year.
A team of DGCA visited the crash spot yesterday and initiated a detailed investigation in the accident.
Advertisement
A separate team of DGCA officials reached Katra today and started conducting audits on various air safety norms such as airworthiness of the helicopters, operation and maintenance procedure being followed by the operators, the official said.
Advertisement
The Board also attended to the family members of the deceased pilot and made arrangements for the transportation of her body to Delhi.
Advertisement
Deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh yesterday said, "As per initial information, a bird got caught in the tail rotor as a result of which it stopped functioning. Finding the area below populated, the woman pilot chose a safe landing at the new bus stand to avoid casualties on the ground.
Advertisement
A separate magisterial probe was ordered by the Jammu and Kashmir government into the incident yesterday.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Stage Set For Phase 1 Of J&K Elections Today, 24 Seats Up For Contest 26.7% Turnout Recorded Till 11 am In Phase 1 Of Jammu And Kashmir Polls: 10 Points 6 Army Commandos Injured After Vehicle Plunges Into Deep Gorge In J&K's Rajouri In Big Step Towards One Nation, One Election, Cabinet Clears Plan Explained: How Pagers Turned Bombs And Why Israel Is Being Blamed On Camera, Doctor Thrashed For Asking Patient's Family To Remove Slippers Veterinarian Warns Against Owning These 5 Dog Breeds Due To Health Concerns What Pager Attack On Hezbollah Could Mean For Volatile Middle-East Massive Asteroid's Near-Earth Approach In 2029. But There's A Bigger Danger Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.