Act of Kindness Saves Couple from Fatal Helicopter Crash in Kedarnath

A couple from Maharashtra, Pooja and Pravin Mahajan, narrowly evaded a tragic helicopter crash near Kedarnath, thanks to a compassionate decision. By letting a sick teenager and her grandmother board the helicopter ahead of them, the Mahajans unknowingly saved themselves, as the helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff, claiming the lives of Pooja’s sister, her husband, and their young daughter.

NAGPUR: An act of kindness spared the lives of Pooja and Pravin Mahajan in a fatal helicopter crash near Kedarnath this past Sunday. This couple from Bhadravati, situated in Chandrapur district, was traveling with Pooja’s sister Shraddha Jaiswal from Wani in Yavatmal district, Shraddha’s husband Rajkumar, and their toddler daughter Kashi. All three tragically perished along with four others when the chopper went down just minutes after takeoff.

On Sunday morning, while the group was waiting for their helicopter at the Kedarnath helipad alongside the Jaiswals for the first flight to Gaurikund, an elderly woman in line requested that she and her ailing granddaughter be allowed to board first. In a moment of selflessness, Pravin agreed to let Vinod Devi, 66, and Trishti Singh, 19, take their spot in line, opting to wait for the next helicopter. Speaking to TOI, Mahajan shared, “The woman mentioned that her granddaughter had a fever and urgently needed to reach the Gaurikund base. I agreed to let them go ahead,” he explained.

Rajkumar Jaiswal, aged 41, was a leading coal-transport businessman from Wani, who had embarked on the Char Dham yatra with his family on Thursday, fulfilling a long-held personal promise. The group reached the Kedarnath shrine by 9:30 am on Saturday and hoped to return by noon. However, due to severe weather conditions, flights were grounded for the remainder of that day. Helicopter services resumed at 5 am on Sunday. While two other helicopters took off and landed without incident, the Jaiswal family met with disaster.

Besides managing his coal business, Jaiswal also operated a retail store and was a respected figure in his community for his devout beliefs and participation in local affairs. Shraddha, his 35-year-old wife, and their 23-month-old daughter Kashi perished alongside him in the crash. Their six-year-old son, Vivaan, remained in Maharashtra with his grandfather, while their elder son, who studies in a hostel, had not joined them on the journey.